Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
A Marxist guerrilla group has claimed responsibility.
A Marxist guerrilla group is responsible, officials say.
What is happening?
A soldier was killed and two others wounded in northwest Colombia on Wednesday after guerrilla fighters used a donkey rigged with explosives to target a military unit.
ELN Blamed for Shocking Assault in Antioquia
According to CBS News, officials say the National Liberation Army (ELN), a Marxist guerrilla group, is responsible for the bombing in Valdivia, located in Colombia’s Antioquia department.
Governor Slams Government’s Peace Strategy
Antioquia’s governor, Andrés Julián Rendón, criticized the national government in a social media post, calling the attackers “emboldened bandits” who act with impunity under the current push for “total peace.”
Victim Identified as Young Army Lieutenant
The fallen soldier was named as Lieutenant Jhonatan Arbey Monsalve Moreno. Governor Rendón praised him as a hero who died in the line of duty while serving his country in a hostile zone.
Peace Talks Suspended Amid Escalating Violence
Peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the ELN were halted in January after the group was blamed for deadly raids near the Venezuelan border that left more than 100 dead.
ELN Increases Attacks on Colombian Forces
Since the collapse of talks, the ELN has ramped up its assaults on military and police units.
Petro’s ‘Total Peace’ Strategy Under Fire
President Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first leftist leader, took office in 2022 with a bold goal: end decades of armed conflict through dialogue.
But critics say his peace-first approach is being exploited by armed groups.
Legacy of FARC Peace Deal Fading
Colombia had enjoyed a period of relative calm following the 2016 peace agreement with the FARC, once the country’s largest rebel force.
However, the vacuum left behind has been filled by new and reemerging militant factions.
Armed Groups Vie for Control of Illicit Economies
Large swaths of Colombia remain contested territory for guerrillas, paramilitaries, and drug cartels.
hese groups thrive off cocaine production, illegal mining, and trafficking networks, often clashing violently.
Government Offers Reward for Rebel Leaders
In response to renewed attacks, Colombia’s government in January offered a $700,000 reward for information leading to the capture of four ELN leaders.
