A car bomb exploded in southwest Colombia on Saturday, a day after conservative President Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in, according to local authorities. The attack, which injured two people, occurred in the region of Cali, a major city in southwestern Colombia, and was attributed to the army. The blast targeted a public area, though no immediate details on the casualties or the motive were released (winnipegfreepress.com).
President de la Espriella, a right-wing politician who narrowly won June’s presidential runoff, had vowed during his inauguration to launch an "all-out war" on "narco-terrorism" and strengthen security across the country. His campaign focused on cracking down on armed groups and drug cartels, a stance supported by the United States, which pledged $1 billion in aid to Colombia as he took office (bbc.co.uk).
The attack comes amid heightened tensions in the region, where violence linked to drug trafficking and armed groups remains a persistent issue. The army has not yet confirmed the perpetrators, but officials are investigating the incident as part of broader efforts to combat organized crime. The timing of the attack, just days after the president’s inauguration, has raised concerns about the security challenges facing the new administration (globalnews.ca).
