Why are there ‘do not travel’ warnings in Colombia?

Arauca, Puerto Carreño, and the Cauca department have just been added to “do not travel” warning lists as Colombia sees a sharp spike in armed violence, just weeks before presidential elections. 

Last month, coordinated attacks were launched across southwestern Colombia — including drone strikes, bombings near military bases, and a major explosion on a busy highway that killed more than 20 civilians, the deadliest attack against civilians in decades.

Behind the attacks was the EMC, a dissident faction of the former FARC rebel group, now at the centre of a rapidly escalating conflict with the Colombian state. The attacks contributed to a 44% surge in conflict-related fatalities in April.

Cauca and Valle del Cauca have historically been battlegrounds between the Colombian military and armed groups fighting for territory, trafficking routes, and political leverage ahead of the vote. Although located at the opposite side of the country, along the border with Venezuela, Arauca and Puerto Carreño are also experiencing an ever more severe confrontation between military forces and an armed group, but the dominant actor there is the ELN, the most enduring guerrilla in the country.

The government is stepping up the deployment of extra troops and  security operations, including aerial bombings, but this may not prevent armed groups’ violence from further escalating before Colombians head to the polls on 31 May.

See the latest from ACLED on Latin America.

For an interview with the Latin America team, contact the ACLED press office at [email protected]. 

ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data) is a global monitor that collects, analyzes, and maps data on conflict and protest. ACLED provides detailed information to help identify, understand, and track patterns and trends in conflict and crisis situations around the world.