Bomb Attack on Pan-American Highway in Cauca Province Kills Dozens Ahead of Colombian Election

On 25 April 2026, an explosive cylinder detonated on the Pan-American Highway in the El Túnel sector of Cajibío, Cauca. The blast overturned vehicles, left a large crater and caused civilian casualties. Reported fatalities range from 13 to 19; injuries range from 17 to 38, including five children.

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The 2016 peace accord ended the main FARC insurgency, but dissident factions rejected it and resumed armed crime. The most active splinter, led by Néstor Gregorio Vera Fernández (“Iván Mordisco”), controls drug routes in Cauca and Valle del Cauca. The bombing follows a surge of 26 attacks across the two departments in the days before the 31 May presidential election.

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• President Gustavo Petro – promoting a “total peace” agenda.

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• Governor Octavio Guzmán – called the blast a tragedy.

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• Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez – led rescue coordination.

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• General Commander Hugo Alejandro López Barreto – reported the wave of attacks.

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• Iván Mordisco (Néstor Gregorio Vera Fernández) – leader of the dissident faction blamed for the bombing.

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• Paloma Valencia – Democratic Center presidential candidate from Cauca, critic of the government.

Reuters

President Petro condemned the attackers as terrorists and drug traffickers, urging a global pursuit of the narco-terrorist group. Governor Guzmán called the incident a tragedy, warned of a terrorist escalation and demanded swift government action. Defense Minister Sánchez coordinated rescue efforts on site. López Barreto announced a national security council to address the wave of attacks.

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Paloma Valencia, the Democratic Center candidate from Cauca, accused Petro’s administration of downplaying the violence and called for immediate, robust support for the armed forces and police to protect civilians.

Reuters

Videos posted on X showed a deep crater, overturned buses and trucks, and smoke. Red Cross volunteers established a triage station at the site, treating injured civilians, including five children.

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Sources differ on the death toll (13, 14 or 19) and on the number of wounded (17 versus 38). No official figure on the quantity of explosives used or on any arrests beyond the attribution to Iván Mordisco’s group has been released.

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• “terrorists, fascists and drug traffickers.” — Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia

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• “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

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• “Over these two days in the departments of Cauca and Valle del Cauca, 26 terrorist actions have occurred that have affected our civilian population,” — Hugo Alejandro López Barreto, General Commander of the Military Forces of Colombia

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• “President ?Gustavo Petro's government cannot continue minimizing the violence or dismantling the state,” — Paloma Valencia, Democratic Center presidential candidate

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• “the maximum worldwide pursuit against this narco-terrorist group,” — Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia

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The 31 May presidential election will test public confidence in security policies. The government will convene the national security council, and President Petro plans joint border operations with Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez to combat the dissident groups.

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