Latest News

Thirteen Colombian Soldiers Remain Stranded in Cauca After Black Hawk Crash

By Richard Emblin - October 21, 2026

Rescue efforts continue in rugged terrain near Inzá, Cauca, where difficult weather conditions have delayed the evacuation of 13 Army personnel following the October 19 helicopter crash. INZA – Thirteen Colombian Army soldiers remain stranded near the site of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crash in the mountainous municipality of Inzá, Cauca, on Wednesday, October […]

Colombia security debate moves to Bogotá as congressman seeks military deployment

By Richard Emblin - October 1, 2026

A proposal to deploy Colombia’s armed forces in three of Bogotá’s most populous localities has opened a new debate over the role of soldiers in urban security, days after President Abelardo De La Espriella ordered a military deployment in the Caribbean city of Santa Marta following a wave of violence attributed to a criminal organization. […]

De La Espriella vows to get ‘Pinocho’ after death of paramilitary leader in Santa Marta

By The City Paper Staff - September 22, 2026

Santa Marta woke on Tuesday to deserted streets, closed businesses and suspended transport following the killing of a senior commander of the Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada (ACSN), as President Abelardo De La Espriella vowed to pursue the armed group’s leadership. José Luis Pérez Villanueva, alias “Cholo”, described by authorities as the second commander […]

De la Espriella declares all criminal groups in Colombia ‘terrorists’ in sweeping security crackdown

By The City Paper Staff - August 26, 2026

Colombia’s Abelardo De La Espriella has declared that every illegal armed and criminal organization operating in Colombia will be treated as a terrorist group, signaling a sharp hardening of his government’s security policy only weeks after taking office. Speaking during a security council in Barranquilla on Sunday, President De La Espriella said his government would […]

FARC dissident ‘Iván Mordisco’ alive but wounded after major military bombardment

By The City Paper Staff - March 30, 2026

Colombia’s security forces believe FARC dissident leader Iván Mordisco is alive but seriously wounded following a major aerial bombardment in the remote department of Vaupés, dealing a significant blow to one of the country’s most powerful armed groups. Uncertainty over the fate of Mordisco — whose real name is Néstor Gregorio Vera Fernández — mounted […]

Caracol Reveals Complicity Between FARC Dissidents and Colombian Army

By The City Paper Staff - November 24, 2025

President Gustavo Petro is confronting explosive accusations of treason and complicity after a Noticias Caracol investigative report revealed alleged channels of communication and the transfer of highly classified military intelligence from the Armed Forces to FARC dissidents led by alias Calarcá. The report broadcast on Sunday has plunged the leftist administration into political turmoil and […]

Kidnapped Soldiers in Colombia’s Guaviare Running Low on Food and Water

By The City Paper Staff - August 28, 2025

Thirty-four Colombian soldiers have been held hostage for over four days in Guaviare after clashes with FARC dissidents. Surrounded by civilians, they face dwindling food and water supplies as government and international mediators work to secure their release.

ELN Modifies Drones To Target Colombia’s Security Forces

By Richard Emblin - July 22, 2025

Three Colombian soldiers were killed and eight injured in a drone attack by ELN guerrillas on Independence Day in Norte de Santander. The strike marks a deadly escalation in the use of weaponized drones, as armed groups increasingly adopt remote warfare tactics in Colombia’s ongoing internal conflict.

ELN warns Colombia’s Petro that it “Will Never Accept Submission or Surrender”

By Richard Emblin - February 3, 2025

As Colombia escalates its military operations against the ELN guerrilla after weeks of violence in Catatumbo region, President Petro disclosed classified intelligence on social media. The ELN has vowed to not surrender, while security threats deepen in the department of Cauca.

U.S Executive Order to Freeze Aid impacts Colombia’s Black Hawk fleet

By Richard Emblin - January 31, 2025

President Trump’s executive order freezing U.S. foreign aid threatens to ground Colombia’s Black Hawk helicopters, vital for counter-narcotics and security operations. With Russian MI-17s also grounded, Colombia faces disruptions in conflict zones such as Catatumbo and environmental protection efforts within its National Parks.

Colombia: Cauca under attack from FARC dissidents

By The City Paper Staff - May 20, 2024

Colombia’s Armed Forces are engaged in combat with FARC dissidents of the EMC after Monday’s attack in Miranda, Cauca. Over 72 hours the southwest of Colombia has witnessed unprecedented violence.

Influenza A outbreak puts Bogotá Military Academy under strict quarantine

By The City Paper Staff - February 6, 2024

An Influenza A outbreak at the Military School of Cadets José María Cordova in Bogotá has resulted in a strict quarantine of the institution, and fears that the outbreak could spread among city residents. Cadet Cristopher Blanco died from exposure to the virus.