Colombia: Soldiers ambushed in Arauca department October 7

Event

A group of armed men ambushed soldiers protecting civilian workers in Araquita municipality (Arauca department) on the morning (local time) of Monday, October 7. At least five gunmen opened fire on the soldiers at approximately 08:40, leaving at least one person dead and two others wounded. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the ambush, but ex-FARC dissidents are suspected of carrying out the attack.

Military operations in response to the incident are possible in the coming days. Further clashes between armed groups and security forces are also expected in the near term.

Context

A peace deal between FARC leadership and the Colombian government was ratified by the Colombian congress 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, notably in the Colombian-Ecuadorian border region.

Advice

Individuals in or planning travel to Colombia are advised to keep abreast of the situation. Due to the presence of a number of armed groups - including drug cartels, right-wing militias, local gangs, and the ELN guerrilla group in addition to ex-FARC dissidents - Western governments generally advise against travel to various regions of the country, most notably most border areas on the frontiers with Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, and Panama.