Colombia Bus Bombing Kills 13

An explosive device killed 13 people and injured 38 others on a bus in Cajibio, southwestern Colombia, on Saturday. This attack, described as a 'terrorist act' by General Hugo López-Gatell, commander of Colombia's Armed Forces, is blamed on dissidents of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, specifically the network of 'Iván Mordisco' and the Jaime Martínez faction. Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack, labeling the perpetrators as terrorists and drug traffickers. This incident is part of a recent surge in violence in southwestern Colombia, a region contested by illegal armed groups linked to drug trafficking. Other incidents include shootings, attacks on public infrastructure, and vehicle bombings in areas like Jamundi, El Tambo, Cali, and Palmira. High-ranking officials, including Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez, have mobilized to the region, and governors like Francisca Toro of Valle del Cauca have called for immediate national government support to reinforce security and intelligence operations. Authorities indicate that Cauca and Valle del Cauca are critical hubs for illicit activities, controlling access routes to the port of Buenaventura, a key transit point for drug trafficking to Central America and Europe. The government has offered rewards for information leading to the capture of group leaders.