Mayoral candidate killed, four police hurt in bombing: Colombian president sends troops to Cucuta

Photo: Collected

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has ordered a temporary increase in the presence of troops and security forces in Cucuta, a city on the border with Venezuela, as violence by criminal gangs has escalated.

The order came on Thursday.

News agency AFP reported this.

Cucuta, capital of the Norte de Santander department, has seen a string of violent incidents over the past few days.

Local authorities said a mayoral candidate was murdered and four police officers were injured in a bomb attack during this time.

To bring the situation under control, President de la Espriella ordered the military to be sent to Cucuta immediately. He said, ‘This measure will remain in place temporarily until public safety and law and order return to normal.’

Under the order, additional police and soldiers will be deployed in the city. However, it has not been specified how many will go.

This is the second time the right-wing president has ordered a stepped-up military presence in a city since taking office on 7 August.

Earlier, in September, he took similar action in Santa Marta, a popular tourist city in the country.

At that time, attacks by an armed drug-trafficking gang caused extensive damage to businesses and vehicles in Santa Marta.

The border between Colombia and Venezuela is about 2,200 kilometres long. Several armed groups involved in drug trafficking, illegal mining and smuggling are active in the vast, remote border areas. They include rebel factions of the disbanded armed group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN).

Since coming to power with a promise to get tough on armed groups, de la Espriella has stepped up air and ground operations across the country.

Background

Carrying an AFP report, Malay Mail said that on 1 August, six days before de la Espriella was sworn in, at least 11 people were injured when a truck packed with explosives blew up next to a police station in Cucuta.

At a glance

According to a Telemundo report, de la Espriella took office in the city of Cali on 7 August, succeeding Gustavo Petro; Petro was the first left-wing president in Colombia’s history.

Sources

Original report: BSS

Background sources: Malay Mail (AFP), 1 August 2026; Telemundo, 1 August 2026