A violent attack in southwestern Colombia has resulted in the deaths of at least five soldiers, following an explosive ambush by dissident FARC guerrillas in the Micay Canyon region, known for its significant production of cocaine. The Colombian army reported that the military convoy was targeted by an explosive device concealed in a road embankment while on a mission to restore a vital bridge in the rural town of La Hacienda, which had previously been destroyed by militants associated with the Carlos Patino structure.
The army has confirmed that among the casualties, there were two non-commissioned officers and three professional soldiers, with three additional soldiers sustaining serious injuries from the attack. The Carlos Patino group is identified as a faction connected to the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), a collection of dissident FARC members who rejected a landmark peace agreement signed with the Colombian government in 2016.
In response to the attack, Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his sentiments on the social media platform X, conveying his regret and condemnation of the “vile terrorist act” against the army convoy. This incident unfolds just days after a separate and intense standoff in the region, where 28 police officers and a soldier, who had been held hostage, were released. Those hostages were detained during a government military operation aimed at curtailing drug-related violence that has plagued the area.
Tensions had recently escalated in Micay Canyon following the evacuation of the hostages, highlighting the ongoing unrest as clashes erupted between local residents and security forces. The 29 individuals had been captured during an operation linked to the EMC, which maintains a strong presence in the region famed for its high concentration of coca crops.
The Colombian government is grappling with significant challenges as it confronts its most severe wave of unrest in ten years. Efforts to reclaim control over regions in Cauca Department have intensified since October, alongside President Gustavo Petro’s ambitious crop substitution program aimed at addressing the entrenched drug trafficking economy. However, local communities have criticized the initiative, perceiving it as a “forced eradication” campaign against coca crops, exacerbating tensions in an already volatile context.
