16 Mar 2018 | 11:10 AM UTC
Colombia: Deadly grenade attack in Guaviare March 14
Grenade attack against Colombian soldiers in Guaviare department March 14; one killed, three wounded
Event
A grenade attack was carried out against a group of soldiers on patrol in Guaviare department (center-south) around 21:00 (local time) on Wednesday, March 14. One soldier was killed and three others were injured in the explosion, which occurred in the municipality of La Carpa.
The FARC guerrilla group had a major presence here before being officially demobilized in 2016-2017. Ex-FARC dissidents, however, may still be present in the area and their involvement in Thursday’s attack has not been ruled out. An IED (improvised explosive device) attack attributed to ex-FARC militants was carried out against electricity infrastructure in Guaviare in February, leading to power outages that affected half the department.
Context
A peace deal between the FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) and the Colombian government was ratified in November 2016, officially ending an armed conflict that killed more than 260,000 people over five decades. However, some dissident ex-FARC militants remain active in various parts of the country.
Advice
Due to the presence of a number of armed groups, some Western governments advise against travel to various regions of the country, notably rural areas, including Guaviare.
