Rebel-fuelled violence has derailed leftist President Gustavo Petro's 'Total Peace' plan in Colombia, as a deadly highway bombing underscores the fragility of security in the South American nation. Analysts say Petro's unconditional attempts to negotiate with guerrilla groups have backfired, emboldening factions like the Central General Staff (EMC).
Deadly attack on Pan-American highway
On Saturday afternoon, the southern stretch of Colombia's Pan-American highway was crowded with vehicles carrying farmers and Indigenous villagers. Shortly after midday, an improvised explosive device detonated among over a dozen cars and minibuses trapped at an illegal roadblock. At least 20 people were killed and 56 injured, marking one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in recent Colombian history.
Authorities quickly identified the perpetrators: the EMC, an offshoot of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) that refused to disarm under the 2016 peace deal. For many citizens, the attack is yet another sign of deteriorating security across much of the country.
Civilians caught in the crossfire
While international observers considered Colombia's long-running armed conflict resolved after the 2016 peace agreement, recent years have seen a resurgence in violence. Armed groups are vying for territorial control at the expense of civilians. The EMC, in particular, has earned a reputation for brutal tactics.
“They are characterized by a strong, heightened aggressiveness toward the civilian population,” said Laura Bonilla, deputy director at the Peace and Reconciliation Foundation, a Bogotá-based think tank.
Beyond the highway bombing, the EMC was blamed for dozens of attacks over the weekend across multiple Colombian provinces, underscoring its vicious stranglehold on large areas. The militia has also pioneered the use of new battlefield technology, especially drones. Analysts describe it as the most advanced rebel group in modern warfare.
“It has become clear that this criminal group’s capabilities have surpassed those of law enforcement, and there is no strategy in place to stem its advance,” said Gerson Arias, conflict and security investigator at the Colombian Ideas for Peace Foundation.
The weekend's wave of attacks was a way for the EMC to assert its dominion over southwestern Colombia, where it considers itself the de facto authority.
Pitfalls of Petro's peace strategy
The violence signals a broader security crisis across Colombia. Rights groups report the highest rates of displacement, forced confinement, and victims of explosive attacks in a decade as the armed conflict intensifies. New militias like the EMC have risen from the ashes of the FARC, while older groups have consolidated power. Since 2018, the number of armed group fighters has more than doubled to 27,000.
President Petro's 'Total Peace' plan, which promised unconditional negotiations, has failed to stem the tide. Critics argue that his approach has given rebels room to regroup and rearm, leading to a dramatic escalation in violence just ahead of key elections.
