Deadly Guerrilla Offensive Rocks Southwest Colombia with 31 Coordinated Attacks

A violent campaign by FARC dissident group EMC in Cauca and Valle del Cauca has killed 20 civilians and sparked a fierce response from President Gustavo Petro.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 30, 2026, 8:15 AM EDT

Source: Colombia Reports

Mass Casualty Event in Cajibio Municipality

The most devastating strike of the 31 recorded attacks occurred on Saturday in the municipality of Cajibio. Armed militants reportedly blocked main traffic arteries before detonating improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in a coordinated strike. The primary blast struck a commercial passenger bus, resulting in the immediate deaths of 20 passengers and leaving 30 others with varying degrees of injury. Witnesses and local authorities confirmed that 15 vehicles were incinerated during the chaos, effectively paralyzing the region's transport network.

Identifying the Jaime Martinez Front and Strategic Context

Intelligence officials have linked the violence to the Jaime Martinez Front (JMF), an elite unit of the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), which is a dissident faction of the formerly demobilized FARC. This specific cell is known to maintain a stranglehold on illegal mining operations and cocaine production facilities within the Cauca region. The offensive appears to be a strategic move to project power and secure trafficking corridors, occurring at a time when the central government has been attempting to navigate complex peace negotiations with various armed groups.

Government Response and Political Ramifications

President Gustavo Petro responded to the bloodshed with uncharacteristic vitriol, labeling the EMC top commander, Ivan Mordisco, and his followers as "terrorists" and "fascists." Petro’s administration argued that these factions are intentionally fueling instability to benefit far right political interests, claiming that criminal gold and cocaine enterprises thrive under more authoritarian governance. By branding these groups as perpetrators of crimes against humanity, the President has signaled a potential shift toward more aggressive military intervention in the southwest.