Car Bomb Explodes in Southwest Colombia a Day After New President Takes Office

A car bomb exploded at a toll plaza in southwestern Colombia on Saturday, a day after conservative political newcomer Abelardo de la Espriella assumed office as the country’s new president, raising fresh concerns over security under his administration.

The Colombian Army said the attack took place on the Pan-American Highway, a key route connecting the departments of Cauca and Valle del Cauca. Two security guards sustained minor injuries in the blast. Authorities said one guard reported that the vehicle had been abandoned by a person who later fled the scene on a motorcycle.

The Army alleged that the attack was carried out by two dissident groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) that rejected the peace agreement signed by the former rebel group with the government a decade ago.

Soldiers secured the area following the explosion and deployed trained dogs to search for additional explosives. Parts of the vehicle, including its charred chassis, were scattered around the toll plaza.

Residents living near the site described the blast as powerful. Elizabeth Zapata, 57, said the explosion shook nearby homes and shattered windows, leaving family members with glass fragments in their backs.

Cauca Governor Jorge Octavio Guzmán said the attack appeared to be part of a broader strategy to isolate the department and maintain control over large areas. “This is not an isolated incident; it is systematic,” he said.

The attack came a day after de la Espriella was sworn in at a ceremony in Cali, the capital of Valle del Cauca. In his inaugural address, the new president adopted a tough stance against armed groups, warning them that they must either submit to the rule of law or confront the security forces.

Meanwhile, de la Espriella announced the transfer of 117 prisoners linked to the previous administration’s peace talks to eight maximum-security prisons. The move is intended to strengthen prison control and prevent criminal organisations from coordinating illegal activities from inside jails.

The 48-year-old lawyer and businessman, who had no previous political experience, narrowly defeated progressive senator Iván Cepeda in June’s presidential runoff.