Colombia car bomb tests new President de la Espriella's hardline security push

Cali,UPDATED: Aug 9, 2026 00:24 IST

A car bomb exploded in south-western Colombia on Saturday, a day after conservative political newcomer Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as the country’s new president. The army said two security guards suffered minor injuries in the blast.

The attack came as de la Espriella began his term by setting out a hard line on security and moving against prisoners linked to the previous administration’s peace talks. On Saturday, he also announced the transfer of 117 inmates to maximum-security prisons.

The army alleged that the bombing was carried out by two dissident groups of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which did not accept the peace agreement signed with the Colombian government a decade ago. The explosion took place at a toll plaza on the Pan-American Highway, the main road in the country’s south-west. One of the guards told authorities the blast was caused by a vehicle abandoned by a person who then fled on a motorcycle.

The attack happened on the road linking the departments of Cauca and Valle del Cauca, whose capital Cali hosted Friday’s swearing-in ceremony for de la Espriella. In his inaugural speech, he outlined his security policy and warned illegal groups that “they have two paths: submit to the rule of law or confront the security forces.”

The army said on social media that soldiers were securing the area and using trained dogs to search for other explosive devices. Transportation Minister Elsa Noguera condemned the attack and said work was under way to restore traffic in the area. “Colombia will not kneel before violence, nor will it allow the destruction of the infrastructure that connects our regions,” she wrote on social media.

Also on Saturday, de la Espriella announced the transfer of 117 prisoners linked to the previous administration’s peace talks to eight maximum-security prisons. The country’s corrections agency said the measure aimed to “regain permanent control of the prisons” and “contain any capacity of criminal organisations” to coordinate illicit activities from within prisons. De la Espriella has rejected the dialogue with armed groups promoted by his predecessor, Gustavo Petro. With no previous political experience, the 48-year-old lawyer and businessperson narrowly defeated Ivan Cepeda, a progressive senator and Petro ally, in a June run-off election held in a polarised political climate. His term begins with strong opposition led by Petro, who refused to acknowledge his victory and continued to allege fraud despite the electoral authority’s official declaration and a positive assessment from international observers. The bombing and the prison transfers marked the start of de la Espriella’s presidency, underscoring his focus on security and his break from his predecessor’s approach.

With PTI Inputs

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