Colombia warns of terrorist threat ahead of presidential inauguration
Outgoing defence minister cites heightened security risks for President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella's swearing-in ceremony in Cali.
L'essentiel
Colombia's outgoing defence minister warns of potential terrorist threats ahead of President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella's inauguration in Cali, where 11,000 troops are being deployed for security.
Résumé généré par IA
Pourquoi c'est important
The handover of the presidency is taking place in Cali, near areas under the control of rebel groups.
Colombia’s outgoing defence minister has warned of a heightened risk of “terrorism” ahead of Friday’s inauguration of President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella.
Minister of Defence Pedro Sanchez told radio station La FM on Wednesday that authorities were tracking a “threat” against Friday’s proceedings. “Most likely, these criminals would attempt to disrupt this democratic event with acts of terrorism,” he said.
The handover of the presidency will take place in the region of Cali in Colombia’s southwest, which has recently seen a series of militia attacks.
De la Espriella, 48, who narrowly won the June presidential run-off, had asked Congress to move the event from the capital, Bogota, to the country’s third-largest city despite its proximity to areas under the control of rebel groups.
Several foreign leaders, including the presidents of Argentina, Paraguay, Chile and Ecuador, along with Spain’s King Felipe VI, are expected to attend the inauguration ceremony.
To secure the event, Colombia’s military is deploying roughly 11,000 troops and has imposed a no-fly zone on drones over Cali and its surroundings. Rebel fighters have previously used drones to drop explosives.
In the department of Cauca, near Cali, a dissident faction of the FARC armed group operates under the command of Ivan Mordisco, the alias of Colombia’s most wanted rebel leader.
The hard-right de la Espriella campaigned on dismantling outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s “Total Peace” negotiation strategy with armed groups.
Petro has disputed the election result and said he will not attend Friday’s ceremony.
À surveiller
Perspective IA — des possibilités, pas des certitudes
Inauguration ceremony takes place in Cali with deployed military personnel.
Très probable · En quelques jours
Questions ouvertes
- Will the inauguration proceed without security incidents?
- How will security forces handle drone threats?
