Colombia’s new authorities guarantees a harsh response following an explosion on the Pan-American Freeway within the nation’s southwest.
Revealed On 8 Aug 2026
Authorities have reported a automobile bomb assault in southwestern Colombia, in the future after far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as president.
The nation’s army alleged that the Saturday assault was carried out by two armed teams that splintered from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a former rebel group that disarmed after a peace take care of the federal government in 2016.
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Authorities say the assault focused a toll plaza on the Pan-American Freeway within the coastal division of Cauca, within the west of the nation.
Two safety guards reportedly suffered minor accidents within the explosion, which a witness mentioned was carried out by a person who left his automobile behind, then escaped the scene by way of bike.
The administration of President de la Espriella shortly pledged a stern response to the automobile bombing.
“Colombia is not going to kneel earlier than violence, nor will it enable the destruction of the infrastructure that connects our areas,” Minister of Transportation Elsa Noguera mentioned in a social media put up responding to the bombing.
She proceeded to reference de la Espriella’s inaugural speech, whereby he pledged to “defeat narco-terrorism” and tamp down legal exercise.
“As President Abelardo de la Espriella mentioned yesterday, the time for restoring order has begun,” Noguera added. “We’ll get better safety, management of our territories, and the peace of thoughts of Colombians.”
The hardline president, who was inaugurated on Friday, had campaigned for workplace on a promise to guide a crackdown on Colombia’s armed teams.
For greater than six many years, Colombia has contended with an inside armed battle between right-wing paramilitaries, left-wing rebels, authorities forces and legal networks. The nation can be the world’s largest producer of coca, the uncooked ingredient used to supply cocaine in addition to conventional Andean medicines.
De la Espriella, a political newcomer, will be a part of a handful of different right-wing figures throughout Latin America who efficiently capitalised on considerations over crime and insecurity to win workplace.
However he’s prone to face challenges addressing these deeply entrenched points in the course of the 4 years of his time period. Colombian presidents should not eligible for re-election.
De la Espriella narrowly defeated his leftist opponent, Senator Ivan Cepeda, in a June run-off election that noticed the 2 candidates separated by lower than 1 p.c of the vote.
The fitting-wing chief has mentioned he would finish the “Total Peace” approach of his predecessor, former President Gustavo Petro, who grew to become Colombia’s first-ever left-wing chief in 2022.
The “Whole Peace” plan hinged on fostering dialogue with armed teams, although Petro did use army drive as effectively.
In contrast, de la Espriella has pledged to return Colombia to a extra militarised method, saying in his inaugural speech that the choice of dialogue was “exhausted”.
He has acquired help from United States President Donald Trump, whose administration has promised $1bn in safety assist after a interval of tense relations with Petro.
The Trump administration has sought to increase US military involvement throughout Latin America within the identify of combatting crime and narcotics trafficking.
It has additionally inspired right-wing leaders throughout the area to embrace extra hardline ways of their efforts to stem legal exercise.
De la Espriella, for instance, has pledged to bomb boats and planes suspected of carrying illicit medication, in step with the same marketing campaign undertaken by Trump within the Caribbean Sea and japanese Pacific Ocean.
These ways, nevertheless, have raised concern from rights teams who warn of the potential for rights abuses by authorities forces.
