Bogotá, August 9: Just 24 hours after taking office, Colombia’s newly elected President Abelardo de la Espriella has faced significant challenges as two bomb attacks rocked the nation. The incidents have raised serious concerns about security, resulting in the death of one police officer and leaving several others injured.
In the southwestern city of Cali, a toll booth on the Pan-American Highway was targeted early Saturday morning, the day after the president’s inauguration. Military officials suspect that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel groups may be behind the attack. Two security guards sustained minor injuries, and the toll booth suffered extensive damage.
The toll booth, located in the municipality of Santander de Quilichao, was under construction. The area is known to be active with a rebel faction led by Iván Mordisco, which has not recognized the historic peace agreement between the government and FARC established in 2016.
President de la Espriella condemned the attacks, stating that assaults on the nation’s infrastructure are attacks on development. He warned that those responsible would face severe consequences, with no refuge or leniency granted.
Transportation Minister Elsa Noguera also denounced the attacks, announcing that efforts to restore traffic in the area are underway. She wrote on social media, “Colombia will not bow to violence, nor will it allow our infrastructure connecting regions to be destroyed.”
Approximately 1,000 kilometers away, in the northern province of Cesar, a police station was targeted by drones loaded with explosives early Saturday morning. Officials confirmed that one police officer lost their life in this attack. So far, no group has officially claimed responsibility. The president has vowed that those accountable will not be spared.
De la Espriella, a right-wing leader, had promised during his campaign a policy of “no compromise against narco-terrorism.” He has indicated plans to end ongoing peace talks with armed groups and to intensify military action against rebel organizations and drug traffickers.
He is known to admire the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. De la Espriella has also pledged to build large prisons and escalate campaigns against crime and drug trafficking.
Nearly a decade after the historic peace agreement in 2016, armed rebel groups continue to exert influence in various regions of Colombia, often linked to the drug trade.
De la Espriella’s term begins at a time when Colombia is grappling with one of the most severe waves of violence in the last decade. The new president now faces the dual challenge of addressing armed groups and drug traffickers while navigating potential political and social tensions stemming from his strict security policies.
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