14 Oct 2017 | 03:59 AM UTC
Colombia-Venezuela: Violence persists along shared border
At least four people dead in September and October from violence on Colombian-Venezuelan border; paramilitary and criminal groups remain active
Event
At least four people have been killed in more than a dozen attacks on the Colombian-Venezuelan border from September to October. The border cities of Cúcuta and Villa del Rosario in Norte de Santander, Colombia, and San Antonio in Táchira, Venezuela, have come under particular strain, with multiple daytime shootings occurring in the cities the weekend of Saturday, October 7. The violence has been attributed to a territorial dispute between criminal and paramilitary groups. Clashes between such groups are likely to continue into the near future as Venezuela faces internal unrest.
Context
Border clashes are common, including with government security forces. On August 26, Venezuelan security forces allegedly crossed the Colombian-Venezuelan border and entered the town of Paraguachón, in the La Guajira region. Soldiers reportedly fired tear gas at residents before robbing them of cellphones, money, and identification papers. Around 20 security personnel were allegedly involved in the incident, and four residents were injured. The Colombian government submitted a formal diplomatic complaint to Venezuela; however, on August 27, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro denied that the incident took place. Colombia's Ministry of Defense is reportedly planning to increase the security presence in the region to prevent future incursions. Colombian security forces have been unable to secure much of the territory left open by the demobilization of the FARC guerilla group following a peace agreement signed in November 2016. Various criminal and paramilitary groups such as the Popular Liberation Army (EPL) have been expanding into these territories. An increase in drug trafficking along the border and related violent incidents has been reported.
Advice
Individuals are advised to avoid the Venezuelan-Colombian border due to these and other security concerns. Many Western governments advise against travel to this zone as well as various other regions in the two countries.
