19 Killed, Dozens Injured in Colombia Highway Bomb Attack Ahead of Elections

At least 19 people were killed and 38 others, including children, injured in a bomb explosion on a highway in southwestern Colombia. The attack, blamed on FARC dissident Ivan Mordisco, is part of a wave of violent incidents targeting civilians ahead of the country’s upcoming presidential election. Authorities have condemned the attack and deployed officials to assess the worsening security situation.

A devastating bomb attack on a major highway in southwestern Colombia has resulted in the deaths of at least 19 people, with authorities attributing responsibility to a notorious drug lord who was formerly associated with the FARC guerrilla movement. The violent incident has further heightened tensions in the country as it approaches a critical presidential election period.
In addition to the fatalities, no fewer than 38 individuals sustained injuries in the explosion, among them five children. The attack occurred on Saturday, just one month ahead of Colombia’s presidential elections, raising serious concerns about security and stability in the lead-up to the polls.
The explosion took place along the busy Pan-American Highway within the municipality of Cajibio, located in the Cauca province. Reports from local media indicate that the blast was caused by an explosive cylinder that fell onto a minibus before detonating with significant force.
Cauca Governor Octavio Guzman described the incident as a “tragedy,” cautioning that it signals a possible escalation in terrorist activities within the region. Visual materials shared by the governor on social media platform X revealed the extent of the destruction. Several vehicles were badly damaged, with some overturned due to the intensity of the explosion. Images also showed a large crater carved into the highway, illustrating the power of the blast.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro placed the blame squarely on Ivan Mordisco, one of the country’s most wanted criminals. Petro compared Mordisco to the infamous late drug lord Pablo Escobar, underscoring the severity of the threat he poses. The president condemned those behind the attack, labeling them as “terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers.”
Ivan Mordisco is known as a dissident member of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Unlike other members who laid down arms following the 2016 peace agreement with the Colombian government, Mordisco rejected the deal and continues to operate in the region with armed groups.
The bombing is part of a broader wave of violence targeting public infrastructure. According to Colombia’s Armed Forces Commander, Hugo López, at least 26 such incidents have occurred within the past two days across the Valle del Cauca and Cauca departments. He noted that these attacks have primarily affected civilians, further compounding public fear.
In response to the escalating situation, high-ranking government officials have been dispatched to the affected areas. Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez was already leading a delegation in the city of Cali to evaluate the security situation in Valle del Cauca following two separate attacks reported on Friday, just a day before the deadly highway explosion.
The surge in violent incidents comes at a particularly sensitive time, as Colombia prepares for its presidential elections scheduled for May 31. Security has emerged as one of the dominant issues in the campaign, with candidates and citizens alike expressing concern over the rising instability.
One of the presidential candidates, Paloma Valencia of the opposition right-wing Democratic Center party, who hails from the Cauca region, has strongly criticized the current administration’s handling of the situation. She called for immediate and decisive action to curb the violence.
Valencia stated that President Gustavo Petro’s government must stop downplaying the severity of the crisis and refrain from weakening state institutions. She emphasized the need for urgent intervention, full support for the armed forces and police, and tangible results in restoring peace and security across the affected regions.