Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli
On this page, you’ll find the latest updates on Colombia and the current security situation as of August 2024. WOLA closely monitors the situation in collaboration with communities and partners, and we will continue to update this page as new information becomes available.
Three Persons Killed in La Estrella (Antioquia)
On August 17, 2024, the Institute for the Study of Development and Peace (Instituto de Estudios para el Desarrollo y la Paz, INDEPAZ) reported that three people were killed with firearms in the village of El Llano, within the La Estrella municipality of Antioquia Department, located in the southern part of the Aburrá Valley. Allegedly, the victims had argued with a person in a club before the incident. Two of the victims were identified as Miguel Ángel Ramos Ospina and Jorge Armando Ramos Ospina. Colombia’s Ombudsman’s office has warned that ongoing armed disputes between local groups and their attempts at societal control place civilians at high risk of harm.
Indigenous Guard and Social Leader Murdered in Toribio, Cauca
On August 18, 2024, armed men fatally shot Alfonso Yule Medina, an Indigenous guard (kiwe thegna), in Toribio, Cauca. According to the Association of Indigenous Cabildos of Northern Cauca (ACIN), Yule was deeply committed to supporting the Nasa indigenous movement and served as president of the Communal Action Board of Pueblo Viejo. Despite being under a differential protection scheme, he was killed. In the past three weeks, fifteen people have been murdered in Toribio municipality. Since 2017, 17 Indigenous guards have lost their lives. ACIN warns that illegal armed groups are intent on exterminating the Indigenous guard.
Female Minor Injured by Landmine in Caquetá
On August 24, 2024, the Amazon Observatory for Human Rights (Observatorio Amazónico de Derechos Humanos) reported that a female minor was injured by a landmine in the Campesino Reserve Zone of Pato Balsillas, Caquetá Department. Pato Balsillas was designated for demining under the 2016 peace accord. However, the Observatory noted that areas remain littered with landmines, and illegal armed groups are re-planting mines in previously cleared zones, putting civilians, especially children, at continued risk of harm.
Massacre of Five Persons in Caquetá
On August 25, 2024, the Institute for the Study of Development and Peace (Instituto de Estudios para el Desarrollo y la Paz, INDEPAZ) reported the massacre of five people—three Colombians and two Venezuelans—in the municipality of Puerto Rico, Caquetá Department. The victims were involved in mining in an area controlled by illegal armed groups. The FARC dissident factions—the Rodrigo Cadete Front of the Southwestern Front of the EMC and the Teofilo Forero of Segunda Marquetalia—are active in this region. In July 2024, the Human Rights Ombudsman’s office had issued an early warning alert (AT 007/24) for Puerto Rico municipality.
Assassination of Democratic Center Political Leader in Huila
On August 26, 2024, armed men abducted Carlos Eduardo Cerquera from a public establishment and killed him in Villa Mercedes, La Plata municipality, Huila Department. Cerquera was a founder of the Democratic Center Party in Huila and had recently run for municipal counselor in La Plata. He was also the president of Pro Capilla in Villa Mercedes. The Human Rights Ombudsman’s office had previously issued two early warning alerts for this area—AT 025/22, which includes La Plata, and AT 019/23, specific to risks faced by social leaders.
Indigenous Facing a Humanitarian Crisis in Alto Baudó (Chocó)
On August 24, 2024, the Inter-Ethnic Forum Solidarity Choco (Foro Inter-Étnico Solidaridad Chocó) issued a humanitarian emergency alert calling on all of Colombia’s institutionality to address the protection and humanitarian crisis facing 300 families internally displaced in Alto Baudó municipality. These families were forced from their homes on March 22, 2024, due to armed confrontations when the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces (AGC) clashed with the National Liberation Army (Ejercito Nacional de Liberación, ELN). The affected come from six Indigenous communities—Nuncido, Caisamo, Tundo Chorro, Pueblo Nuevo, and Iruto). The Afro-Colombian communities are at high risk of suffering the same fate since anonymous messages about a possible armed incursion are circulating. 1,185 persons are affected by this situation, which includes 621 boys, girls, and adolescents.
Indigenous Guard and Nasa Leader Killed in Caldono (Cauca)
On August 29, 2024, the Institute for the Study of Development and Peace (Instituto de Estudios para el Desarrollo y la Paz, INDEPAZ) reported that an assailant killed high profile Indigenous leader and coordinator of the Pedagogical Council of the Indigenous Reserve (Pedagógico del Consejo Educativo Local de Pueblo Nuevo) Carlos Andres Ascue Tumbo in Caldono, Cauca Department. In April, Ascue Tumbo alerted authorities that he was receiving death threats due to his organizing activities. The Human Rights Ombudsman’s office issued two early warnings for the Caldono municipality—AT 036/23 and 019/23. These warnings highlight individual and collective leaders and human rights defenders’ risks. They point out that illegal armed groups are imposing rules and social control over these populations. The Dagoberto Ramos Western Bloc of the ELN operates in this region.
