Car Bomb Attack Hits Colombia After New President Takes Office

Car Bomb Attack Hits Southwestern Colombia After New President Takes Office

A car bomb exploded Saturday in southwestern Colombia, a day after conservative political neophyte Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia’s new president. The army alleged that two dissident groups of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, carried out the attack. The groups did not accept the peace agreement that FARC signed a decade ago with the Colombian government.

The explosion took place at a toll plaza on the Pan-American Highway, the main road in the country’s southwest. Two security guards suffered minor injuries. One of the guards told authorities that the explosion was caused by a vehicle abandoned by an individual who fled on a motorcycle.

The affected road connects the departments of Cauca and Valle del Cauca, whose capital, Cali, hosted Friday’s swearing-in ceremony for de la Espriella. During his inaugural speech, he outlined his security policy and warned illegal groups that “they have two paths: submit to the rule of law or confront the security forces.”

The army said soldiers were securing the area and using trained dogs to search for other explosive devices. Parts of the vehicle, including its charred chassis, were scattered around the toll plaza.

Residents Describe Blast as Authorities Warn of Systematic Violence

The explosion woke families living in houses only a few yards from the crime scene. Elizabeth Zapata, 57, said she felt the blast wave “lift them out of bed” and that windows shattered. Her family members, who live with several children, “arrived with shards of glass embedded in their backs.”

Cauca Gov. Jorge Octavio Guzmán said he believes the attacks are intended to isolate the department in order to maintain control over thousands of hectares.

“This is not an isolated incident; it is systematic,” he said.

The attack came as the new administration moved quickly to emphasize security and a tougher response to armed groups. Minister of Transportation Elsa Noguera condemned the bombing and said work was underway to restore traffic in the area.

“Colombia will not kneel before violence, nor will it allow the destruction of the infrastructure that connects our regions,” she wrote on social media.

The bombing underscores the security challenge facing de la Espriella as he begins his presidency, particularly in regions where dissident armed groups continue to operate after rejecting the FARC peace agreement.

New Government Moves Prisoners to Maximum-Security Facilities

Also on Saturday, de la Espriella announced the transfer of 117 prisoners linked to the previous administration’s peace talks to eight maximum-security prisons.

The measure, according to the country’s corrections agency, aims to “regain permanent control of the prisons” and “contain any capacity of criminal organizations” to coordinate illicit activities from within prisons.

De la Espriella has rejected the dialogue with armed groups promoted by his predecessor, Gustavo Petro. His decision to transfer the prisoners reflects his broader security approach, which places greater emphasis on confronting criminal organizations rather than continuing negotiations with them.

The moves came just one day after his inauguration and following the car-bomb attack in southwestern Colombia, highlighting the immediate security pressures confronting the new administration.

De la Espriella Begins Presidency Amid Political Division

With no prior political experience, the 48-year-old de la Espriella, a lawyer and businessperson, narrowly defeated Iván Cepeda, a progressive senator and Petro ally, in a June runoff election in a polarized political climate.

His term begins with a robust opposition led by Petro, who refused to acknowledge his victory and insisted on alleged fraud despite the official declaration from the electoral authority and the positive assessment from international observers.

The combination of political division and continued attacks by dissident armed groups presents an immediate challenge for the new president. De la Espriella has made security a central priority and has warned illegal groups that they must either submit to the rule of law or confront the security forces.

The car-bomb attack, prisoner transfers and the administration’s rejection of dialogue with armed groups signal a sharp shift in Colombia’s approach to security as the new government begins its term.