In the southwestern part of Colombia, a series of attacks on civilian and military targets has been recorded ahead of the presidential elections in May. This was reported by AP, according to UNN.
Details
According to the country's Ministry of Defense, rebel groups have carried out at least 26 attacks using explosives and drones since Friday. The death toll has risen to 21 people.
One of the deadliest incidents occurred on the Pan-American Highway between Cali and Popayán. Authorities blamed the explosion on the FARC-EMC group, led by Iván Mordisco – a former member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia who did not join the 2016 peace agreement.
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Analysts believe that militants are trying to strengthen their positions ahead of possible negotiations with the new government.
"Part of what they are doing is creating leverage for the future,"
Context and Risks
The region has long remained a zone of influence for illegal groups due to its strategic location for drug trafficking and illegal mining.
The "Total Peace" policy promoted by President Gustavo Petro envisioned a truce with the rebels; however, according to experts, it has not yielded results.
"The government's peace policy was naive. They thought that if they had a lenient attitude toward these groups, they would get a positive reaction,"
The escalation of the security situation could influence the course of the presidential elections, where the issue of security remains one of the key concerns.
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