Colombia: ELN attack in Puerto Valdivia (northwest) Sep. 17

Event

Two policemen were injured on Sunday, September 17, in an attack on a police station in Puerto Valdivia (Antioquia department). Police officials reported that men on motorcycles threw two explosive devices at the station, injuring the policemen and destroying several vehicles. Authorities suspect that the attackers were members of the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group.

Furthermore, a group of ELN militants broke into a construction site for the Puerto Valdivia-Hidroituango road on Sunday and incinerated four vehicles. Local officials suspect this incident was a response to the construction company refusing to give extortion payments to the ELN.

Context

The Colombian government and the ELN announced on September 4 that both sides had agreed to a 102-day bilateral ceasefire between October 1, 2017, and January 12, 2018. However, violence remains possible during this time. The ELN, the country's last remaining rebel group following the demobilization of the FARC, is present in various areas of the country including Arauca, Boyacá, Norte de Santander, La Guajira, Cesar, Bolívar, Casanare, Santander, Chocó, Cauca, Nariño, and Putumayo departments, particularly in rural zones. The ELN and the Colombian government have been engaged in an armed conflict for 53 years.

Advice

Due to the presence of a number of armed groups - including organized crime groups, drug cartels, right-wing militias, and local gangs in addition to the ELN - many Western governments advise against travel to various regions of the country (particularly rural zones), with the notable exceptions of the northern Caribbean regions and central areas (including Bogotá).​