Full Breakdown
Violence Surge by FARC-EMC Threatens Colombian Election
4/28/2026, 9:42:06 AM
Escalating Attacks Ahead of the Vote
Since Friday, 26 coordinated attacks using explosives and drones have been reported across southwest Colombia. The deadliest incident occurred Saturday on the Pan-American Highway between Cali and Popayán, near a tunnel, killing 21. Authorities attribute the blast to the FARC-EMC faction led by Néstor Vera, known as “Iván Mordisco.”
Background & Context
President Gustavo Petro’s “total peace” strategy has offered ceasefires and negotiations with remaining rebels. After a 2023 dialogue, Mordisco’s faction left talks in April 2024 and resumed armed actions, rejecting the 2016 peace accord.
Key Actors
Key figures include Néstor Vera “Iván Mordisco,” commander of the FARC-EMC splinter; President Gustavo Petro, barred from re-election; Iván Cepeda, Petro’s candidate pledging continued talks; conservatives Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia, who favor a tougher security stance; analysts Sergio Guzmán, Javier Garay and Elizabeth Dickinson, who comment on the conflict.
Data and Scope of the Violence
The ministry recorded 26 attacks since Friday, including the highway blast that left 21 dead. The violence is concentrated in Cauca and Valle del Cauca, targeting drug routes, illegal gold mines and the coca-rich Micay Canyon.
Political Stakes and Impact
The attacks come weeks before the May 31 presidential election with 14 candidates. Analysts say both pro-peace and anti-peace camps may use the violence to sway voters, sharpening the debate over the “total peace” policy.
Official Statements and Government Response
The defense ministry named the FARC-EMC as responsible for the highway blast. The defense minister said kidnappings and lockdowns in Cauca have fallen over the past year due to security actions. Candidate Iván Cepeda condemned the attacks on X and urged an investigation into possible electoral interference.
Criticism and Opposition Views
Javier Garay called the peace policy “naïve,” saying concessions let rebels regroup. Conservative candidates promise stronger military pressure on insurgents before any new talks, positioning themselves against Petro’s approach.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Part of what they are doing is establishing leverage towards the future,” — Sergio Guzmán, political-risk analyst.
- “The government’s peace policy has been naïve,” — Javier Garay, political-science professor, Externado University.
- “It is worrying that these terrorist actions are happening in a region where there is ample support for our political project,” — Iván Cepeda, presidential candidate, on X.
- “Dickinson said that the latest attacks in southwest Colombia are one way for the group to show that it can sustain its “asymmetrical war” against the government.” — Elizabeth Dickinson, International Crisis Group analyst.
Conflicting Reports and Information Gaps
Both sources give the same casualty figures; no independent verification of the death toll exists. Victim identities and damage details remain unconfirmed.
What’s Next
Authorities plan intensified operations in Cauca and Valle del Cauca. Campaigns will continue framing the violence in security terms. The May 31 vote will test confidence in the “total peace” strategy amid ongoing insurgent activity.
