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Drone Attacks Spike to 333 Before Colombia Election; Ceasefires Declared

5/26/2026

30 5 Full Breakdown

Center

Drone Attacks Surge

Drone attacks have surged, with 333 incidents recorded in 2025, reshaping Colombia’s security ahead of the May 31 election.
Colombian voters cast ballots for president on May 31, with Iván Cepeda, Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia leading.
Armed groups FARC dissidents and the ELN announced ceasefires before the vote.
Drone attacks on police stations continue in Colombia's southwest as the election approaches.

Right

De La Espriella Gains

Abelardo De La Espriella pledged to end peace talks, combat crime and expand mining and energy projects, opposing Cepeda's reforms.
The AtlasIntel poll 4,531 interviews (May 18-21) gave Ivan Cepeda 38.7% and Abelardo De La Espriella 37.3%, a 1.4-point gap.
De La Espriella gained four points since the previous survey, according to the AtlasIntel poll.
A hypothetical runoff projected De La Espriella would receive 50% versus Cepeda’s 41.3%.

Blindspot

Blindspot

Center coverage emphasized the surge in drone attacks and the broader security fallout ahead of the election, a detail that is absent from Right coverage.
Center coverage framed the vote as a referendum on President Petro’s “total peace” policy and its critics’ concerns about rising violence, which Right coverage did not mention.

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Drone Attacks Surge

Drone attacks have surged, with 333 incidents recorded in 2025, reshaping Colombia’s security ahead of the May 31 election.
Colombian voters cast ballots for president on May 31, with Iván Cepeda, Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia leading.
Armed groups FARC dissidents and the ELN announced ceasefires before the vote.
Drone attacks on police stations continue in Colombia's southwest as the election approaches.

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