Wave of attacks reshapes Colombia presidential race
April 28 (UPI) -- A wave of attacks in southwestern Colombia has transformed the country's presidential campaign into a debate over national security weeks before voters head to the polls on May 31.
More than 30 attacks carried out between Friday and Saturday in the departments of Cauca and Valle del Cauca killed 21 people and wounded 56 others, renewing concerns over security guarantees ahead of the election.
Paloma Valencia, a presidential candidate from the right-wing Centro Democrático, said Monday that dissident factions of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC, were plotting to assassinate her. President Gustavo Petro and Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez dismissed the claim.
In recent interviews with Colombian media outlets El Espectador and Caracol Radio, Sánchez said authorities still guarantee full security conditions for the presidential election despite the violence.
The defense minister announced deployment of 25,000 security personnel to southwestern Colombia, the epicenter of the violence, and a reward of about $1,4 million for Iván Jacobo Idrobo Arredondo, also known as "Marlon," leader of the Western Bloc of the FARC dissident groups.
Military intelligence identifies him as the mastermind behind the massacre on the Pan-American Highway hat killed 20 civilians and wounded 36 when an explosive device detonated on a bus and several vehicles in Cajibío, Cauca, on Saturday.
Colombian media reported that authorities in cities including Cali and Palmira imposed restrictions on moving services and gas cylinders, while 3,700 additional police officers were assigned to protect 216 polling stations.
Petro said Sunday after a national security meeting that drug traffickers were attempting to sabotage the election "so that the extreme right wins through fear."
The president also said explosives used in the attacks by armed groups in Cauca allegedly came from Ecuador, citing intelligence reports that he said still require confirmation.
According to Petro, Ecuador has become a storage and distribution hub for criminal groups seeking to destabilize security in southwestern Colombia.
Local media reported Tuesday that Petro formally asked intelligence and defense agencies to prioritize that line of investigation.
Nine major candidates are competing in the presidential election, representing a broad ideological spectrum.
According to a poll published Sunday by consulting firm Invamer, leftist candidate Iván Cepeda of the Pacto Histórico leads the race with 44.3% support. However, his message of "Total Peace," a strategy associated with the Petro administration aimed at negotiating with armed groups, now faces growing scrutiny after the attacks.
Cepeda has argued the violence is intended to benefit the "extreme right" by spreading fear among voters.
Opposition candidates have used the attacks in Cauca to criticize what they describe as the failure of the government's security strategy.
Valencia has gained support amid public dissatisfaction, reaching 19.8% in the poll and positioning herself as a hardline candidate. She has sharply criticized deteriorating security conditions in southwestern Colombia and called on voters to reject the government's "Total Peace" strategy and end concessions to armed groups.
Far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella has also gained momentum. Polling at 21.5%, he has promoted a platform focused on "radical order" and a full military offensive against armed group leaders.
Meanwhile, centrist figures including Alejandro Gaviria and Sergio Fajardo have struggled to maintain visibility amid increasingly polarized debates over security.
The poll suggests the race is likely headed to a runoff election scheduled for June 21, with public opinion increasingly shaped by the security crisis in southwestern Colombia.
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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 11:47 AM.