Dissidents of the FARC blew up a toll booth and an attack with explosive drones left one police officer dead
The events occurred just hours after De La Espriella's inauguration speech in Cali, where the president announced a profound modification of the security policy developed during the four years of leftist Gustavo Petro's government.
Colombia suffered two attacks from narcoterrorism with explosives during the early hours of Abelardo De La Espriella's government, just a day after the new president promised to combat “narcoterrorism without respite” and end the leftist policy of "negotiations" and not pursuing the main armed groups in the country.
The attacks, recorded during the early hours of Saturday, left one police officer dead, two security guards injured, and damage to infrastructure, becoming one of the first major challenges for the new administration.
The first of the attacks occurred on the Pan-American highway, in the municipality of Santander de Quilichao, in the department of Cauca. According to the Colombian Army, members of the dissidents of the FARC led by alias Iván Mordisco used explosives to destroy a toll booth that was under construction.
Hours later, a second attack occurred in the department of Cesar, in the north of the country. This time, the attackers used drones loaded with explosives against a police station, resulting in the death of one officer. So far, Colombian authorities have not officially attributed this second attack to any organization.
The new president promised to confront criminal structures head-on, end negotiations with the main armed groups, and strengthen the capabilities of the Armed Forces and the Police.
After the attacks became known, De La Espriella issued a stern warning: “Attacking the country's infrastructure is attacking progress,” he stated. He then sent a message directly to those responsible: “There will be no refuge, there will be no leniency, and there will be no impunity.”
The escalation of violence anticipates one of the main challenges that De La Espriella will face during his term. The new president has made the recovery of territorial control and the defeat of armed organizations one of the pillars of his program.
During his first presidential speech, he made his stance clear: “The option of dialogue is completely exhausted.” Just a few hours later, criminal groups once again demonstrated the extent of the security problem that his government inherits.
