On this page, you’ll find the latest updates on Colombia and the current security situation as of September 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.
Afro-Colombian Student Killed During Firefight (Chocó)
On September 2, 2024, a 23-year-old female student at the Technological University of Choco died when she was hit by a bullet resulting from a firefight between armed groups in the San Vicente neighborhood of Quibdo. Another nine persons were injured, four of which have serious injuries. Two other persons were assassinated in the Kennedy neighborhood, and one was injured. In Blancas Corba, another was killed. According to Citara TV, a total of four persons were killed and ten wounded on that day. Violence has killed 111 persons so far in 2024.
Pancitará Indigenous Reserve in Danger (Cauca)
On September 3, 2024, the indigenous authorities of the Ancestral Reservation of Pancitará, located in La Vega municipality, Cauca Department, issued an emergency alert. Intense armed combat is taking place within the jurisdiction of the reservation placing the civilian population at high risk of confinement and/or internal displacement. The illegal armed groups do not respect international humanitarian law. Instead, they are utilizing sacred areas, educational facilities, knowledge centers, and other civilian places to carry out their war. This generates fear, panic, and chaos for the inhabitants. The authorities urge the national government, Colombian institutions, the United Nations, and international civil society to intervene to protect the collective and individual rights of this community. They are urging the national government and the ELN, FARC dissidents, and others to renew talks to decrease the fighting.
Trans Woman Killed in Barranquilla (Atlántico)
The LGBTQ+ rights organization Caribe Afirmativo has reported that Valeska, a trans woman, was murdered on September 6 in Barranquilla, Atlántico Department. According to the organization, Colombia is experiencing a wave of violence against LGBTQ+ individuals. So far in 2024, they have recorded the murders of 31 LGBTQ+ persons, 16 of whom were trans.
Afro-Colombian Youth Killed (Chocó)
The Black Communities Process (Proceso de Comunidades Negras, PCN) reported that Joseph Sánchez Machado, an Afro-Colombian Youth who defended his culture and territory, was murdered.
12 Persons Massacred along the Naya River (Valle del Cauca/Cauca)
The Inter-Ecclesial Justice and Peace Commission (Justicia y Paz) reported that a massacre took place on September 8, 2024, in the Sagrada Familia community located along the Naya River, on the border between Valle del Cauca and Cauca Departments. Twelve persons were killed, six of them from López de Micay, two from the Naya River, and four others (all women) whose place of origin is unknown. On July 31, 2024, a meeting was held between the Naya River Community Council and Justicia y Paz to evaluate the status of the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) No, 0902 precautionary measure that covers the 74 communities belonging to this community council. Concerns were raised with the Colombian national government since armed conflict is leading to a degradation of the security situation and leading to a humanitarian crisis. The alarm was raised that the black communities living in this area were at high risk of harm. Justicia y Paz condemns the government for not protecting these communities from harm and ignoring their obligations concerning the IACHR precautionary measures. A month and a half ago, armed combat between the Colombian armed forces and the EMC dissident guerillas resulted in the internal displacement of sixty families. Justicia y Paz states that they are the lone voice “crying in the desert denounce(ing), again and again, such painful events that reflect the harsh reality of the communities and peoples who suffer the degradation of war in the face of indifference, absence, and inaction of public officials who are far from being responsible for advancing with facts towards peace and guaranteeing the human rights of the civilian population.” In terms of the massacre, the victims’ relatives were forced to remove the murdered bodies to López de Micay, Naya, and Puerto Merizalde because there was no governmental entity present to do this task.
Justicia y Paz and the Naya Community Council would like President Petro to meet with them to address the security situation. They ask that an institutional verification mission be agreed upon with the Community Council of the Naya River as soon as possible.
Palenque Leader Killed in San Pablo (Bolívar)
The Institute for the Study of Development and Peace (Instituto de Estudios para el Desarrollo y la Paz, INDEPAZ) reported that Jermín Luis Padilla Valdez, a recognized cultural leader, ethno-touristic guide and rap singer, was killed in María La Baja, Bolívar Department on September 9, 2024. Mr. Padilla Valdez was a well-known connoisseur of the Palenque language and the history of the Palenquero people. He worked to guarantee that the language and traditions would be passed on to the newer generations. While hanging out with friends, a perpetrator approached and killed him with a knife. The Human Rights Ombudsman Office had emitted two early warnings for this area (AT 033/23 and 019/23). In these, the entity pointed out that leaders (human rights and social) focused on collective community activities are at high risk of harm due to the social control imposed in this area by the illegal armed groups.
Female Environmental Activist at Risk (Putumayo)
The Inter-Ecclesial Justice and Peace Commission (Justicia y Paz) reported that Jani Silva, legal representative of the Peasant Reserve Zone of the Amazonian Pearl (ADISPA) in the Department of Putumayo has received death threats and is at high risk of harm. On September 10, a man called from the number 3133715936. He stated, “We are going to blow (you) up with everything and (you’re) truck.” When Ms. Silva asked who he was, he said, “That doesn’t matter, just obey the orders, or else we will burn that truck”. The man stated that the truck he was referring to was “the white LLW138.” Justicia y Paz noted that this is the truck the National Protection Unit (UNP) designated to the ADISPA organization as part of the collective scheme of the ADISPA organization. Later that day, Justicia y Paz states that “for about 10 minutes, three men on two high-powered motorcycles were seen on two occasions prowling around the house where ADISPA’s office is located and next to it is the house of the leader Jani in Puerto Asís.” The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has granted precautionary measures to ADISPA. ADISPA forms part of the broader Sómos Genesis network.
Jani Silva is a recipient of the Colombia National Human Rights Prize. She was on the prize winners’ delegation in Washington, DC, and the United Nations in 2023. She has dedicated her life to protecting the Amazon and all forms of life from illegal armed groups and multinational companies. She leads reforestation programs and advocates for peace. Since January 2020, state protection has proven insufficient to prevent at least seven security incidents Ms. Silva experienced. She suffered persecution, illegal digital surveillance by the Colombian Army, death threats, and her home being shot at, and she has uncovered a plan to assassinate her. Given that Colombia tops the world’s ranking on land and environmental rights defenders, the Colombian government must take all steps possible to protect her life.
Anti-Corruption Influencer Wounded by Police (Atlántico)
According to the Social Justice Collective (Colectivo Justicia Racial), on September 16, 2024, the anti-corruption influencer named “White Elephant” was violently attacked by the anti-riot police, leaving him with a fractured rib. In Colombia, a “white elephant” is an economic project that is a dud, whereby it is never brought to fruition because the money is stolen due to corruption. The White Elephant is a social media influencer on Instagram (@elefantescol) with more than 218,000 followers who denounces such projects by protesting wearing a white elephant suit and taking legal action against politicians and others who benefit from such projects. He was engaged in a peace protest concerning the Puerto Colombia toll project located in the Department of Atlántico when he was attacked. We urge Colombia’s Minister of Defense to investigate and act for Colombian officials at the highest level to condemn this attack and protect the right to peaceful protest.
Intimidation of Female Human Rights Defender (Cundinamarca)
The Inter-Ecclesial Justice and Peace Commission (Justicia y Paz) reported that on September 14, 2024, Valentina Melo, one of their defenders, stopped in a bakery on her way to an activity in Ciudad Bolivar, Department on Cundinamarca. The activity involved supporting the local Potosí community’s environmental defense of the Cerro Seco affected by the Transmilenio overhead cable. While in the bakery, accompanied by three Italian volunteers, her National Protection Unit (UNP) bodyguard was waiting outside the establishment, securing entrance to the building. A cab driver approached him and asked, “Are you the driver with the foreign woman and the other young woman? Watch out because they have already spotted and are watching them; they already have their eyes on them.” The bodyguard took immediate action, evacuating the group from the area and taking them to a police station. While the group proceeded with the meeting, they were forced to leave early due to this threat.
Mothers Urge Groups to Return Their Forcibly Recruited Children (National)
The National Movement of Mothers and Women for Peace (Movimiento Nacional de Madres y Mujeres por la Paz) is urging the illegal armed groups to return their children. On September 6, 2024, Melanie Cuchimba Londoño was recruited by an illegal armed group in La Plata municipality in the Huila department and taken to the department of Cauca. The organizations call for the return of the following indigenous minors: From the National Movement of Mothers and Women for Peace, we demand the return of our sons: Elver Darío (13), Wilmer Gustavo (15), Riber Fernando (17) and Jader Danilo (16), who disappeared a month ago in Ricaurte, Department of Nariño. Among others, they also ask about Erika Vanesa Trochez’s whereabouts. Erika Vanesa Trochez vanished on November 23, 2023, in Villa Colombia, Jamundí, Valle del Cauca Department. Erika is just one of the estimated 70 minors that groups forcibly recruited in Jamundí. The last time her family heard from Erika, she was with an illegally armed group. The group asks that anyone with pertinent information contact them immediately at movimientodemadresymujeres.gmail.com.
The international community should pressure illegal armed groups to stop the forcible recruitment of minors and to release those who are in their custody.
Disappeared Social Leader’s Body Found (Arauca)
On September 19, 2024, the Institute for the Study of Development and Peace (Instituto de Estudios para el Desarrollo y la Paz, INDEPAZ) reported that social leader Luis Ordulio Ramón, who was kidnapped on August 12, 2024, in Cubará, Department of Boyacá’s body was found in Charo Island, Saravena municipality, Arauca Department. Mr. Ramón was a member of the board of directors of the Asociación de Caocao of the Municipality of Cubará (ASOCAB), the Association of Community Action Boards of his village, and the
Cubará Farmers Association Boyacá. Colombia’s Ombudsman’s office has early warning reports (TA 011/23 and TA 019/23) out for Saravena municipality. They warn that leaders, female leaders, and anyone exerting human rights leadership are at risk. INDEPAZ notes that the ELN, the 10th and 28th fronts of the Joint Eastern Command, and other local groups.
Journalist Drugged, Beaten and Robbed (Bogota)
On September 19, 2024, Giovanni Celis Sarmiento, Director of the media outlet @RedMasNoticias, posted a disturbing video on Twitter of Santiago Tovar, one of the journalists. In the video, Mr. Tovar is restrained and robbed by two individuals. A third man appears to be keeping watch. According to Mr. Sarmiento, the journalist “was drugged with scopolamine, beaten and robbed on 45th street, very close to the Javeriana University. It all happened the previous Saturday.” We urge the Attorney General’s office to open an investigation into this incident. The perpetrators should be brought to justice.
Social Leader’s Lifeless Body is Found (Valle del Cauca)
On September 24, 2024, the Institute for the Study of Development and Peace (Instituto de Estudios para el Desarrollo y la Paz, INDEPAZ) reported the murder of social leader and president of the Communal Action Board (Junta de Acción Comunal) Heber Rivera Méndez. His lifeless body, with signs of death due to the use of a firearm, was found in the Venus township in Tuluá, Valle del Cauca department. The Human Rights Ombudsman’s office had issued two urgent actions AT 046/20 for Tuluá and AT 019/23 concerning the risks faced by social leaders and human rights defenders. The 17th front of the EMC, GAOR Adan Izquierdo and local smaller groups are in this area.
Female Social Leader Found Dead in Magdalena Medio
On September 29, 2024, the Institute for the Study of Development and Peace (Instituto de Estudios para el Desarrollo y la Paz, INDEPAZ) reported that Roxenda Sanguino, President of the Community Action Board of the Buenos Aires neighborhood in El Banco (Magdalena)’s lifeless body was found. She was found in the rural area of Loba, Bolivar Department. She was reported missing the day prior (September 28).
Indigenous Journalist Targeted on Social Media
On September 30, 2024, the Special High-Level Instance of Ethnic Peoples of Colombia (IEANPE) denounced the attacks against Sandra Chindoy, Indigenous journalist of RTVC Sistema de Medios Públicos. Sandra was the target of misogynistic and racist attacks from sympathizers and militants of the extreme right on social media. The IEANPE praises Sandra Chindoy for her tireless efforts to raise the visibility of the challenges and dynamics faced by ethnic peoples in their collective territories in Colombia.
Three Social Leaders Massacred in Yondó (Magdalena Medio)
On September 30, 2024, the Institute for the Study of Development and Peace (Instituto de Estudios para el Desarrollo y la Paz, INDEPAZ) reported a massacre in la Rompita at the crossroads to Las Palmas, Yondó municipality (Magdalena Medio). Armed men allegedly intercepted three social leaders—Lisímaco Samudio, Johana Sepúlveda, and Jhon Freddy Pérez—while they were riding a motorcycle, opening fire on them. Lisímaco Samudio is the president of the Communal Action Board of Lejanía, Bolivar Department. Johana is its secretary, and John Freddy is its Vice President. The Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office issued the early warning TA 027/22 in this area due to armed conflict taking place between the EGC (Gulf Clan) and other illegal groups.
Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli
