Full Breakdown
Deadly Highway Bombing in Southwestern Colombia Triggers Security Surge
4/26/2026, 2:57:45 AM
Attack Overview
On Saturday, an explosive device detonated on the Pan-American Highway at the El Túnel sector of Cajibío, Cauca department. Official tallies vary, reporting between seven and fourteen deaths and fourteen to thirty-eight injuries, including five children. The blast created a deep crater, destroyed a bus and several vehicles, and halted traffic between Cali and Popayán.
Context and Recent Violence
The bombing was part of a weekend wave of attacks across Cauca and Valle del Cauca, including a police-station shooting, drone strikes on a radar, and vehicle-bomb blasts near military units. The surge precedes the May 31 presidential election.
Perpetrators and Alleged Networks
Armed forces and the president blame dissident FARC factions, notably the network of Néstor Gregorio Vera Fernández (“Iván Mordisco”) and the Jaime Martínez faction. A defence-ministry note linked a separate failed bus bomb to a drug cartel. A reward over US $1 million targets “Marlon,” a regional dissident leader.
Government Response
President Gustavo Petro called the attack terrorism, labeling the perpetrators “terrorists, fascists and drug traffickers.” Governor Octavio Guzmán called it “an indiscriminate attack” and urged decisive action. Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez pledged “firmness,” while General Hugo López Barreto called it a terrorist act. Governor Francisca Toro asked for immediate reinforcement of security forces and intelligence.
Opposition Critique
Presidential candidate Paloma Valencia (Democratic Center) denounced the violence as “terrorism” and accused Petro’s administration of minimizing the threat, demanding “immediate action, full backing for our armed forces and concrete results.”
On-the-Ground Accounts
Witnesses said the explosion knocked them back several metres. Video shows a deep crater, mangled vehicles and Red Cross workers treating victims. Ambulances and emergency crews operated along the devastated roadway.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the death toll (seven-fourteen) and injured count (fourteen-thirty-eight). Some reports date the attack to April 22, others to April 25. While most officials point to FARC dissidents, the defence ministry also cited a drug-trafficking cartel, leaving the exact perpetrator profile unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “An explosive device was detonated on the Pan-American Highway, in the El Túnel sector of Cajibío, in an indiscriminate attack against the civilian population,” — Octavio Guzmán, Governor of Cauca
- “terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers.” — President Gustavo Petro
- “These criminals seek to instill fear, but we will respond with firmness,” — Pedro Sánchez, Defence Minister
- “President Gustavo Petro's government cannot continue minimizing the violence or dismantling the state,” — Paloma Valencia, Presidential candidate (Democratic Center)
Implications and Next Steps
The bombing raises security stakes before the election and may affect voter views on Petro’s peace plan. A national security council will assess the threat; a million-dollar reward seeks intelligence. Bilateral talks with Venezuela on border security could shape future counter-narcotics efforts.
