A bomb attack in southwestern Colombia has left five soldiers dead and six others wounded, according to local media reports. The explosion targeted soldiers working on the repair of a bridge in the town of Balboa, located in the volatile Cauca region, an area known for armed group activity.
Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the attack and expressed his condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers. Authorities have blamed the Carlos Patino group, affiliated with the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), the armed faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) that rejected the 2016 peace accord. Led by Nestor Gregorio Vera, known as “Ivan Mordisco,” the EMC remains one of the most powerful armed groups in Colombia.
With over 3,500 members, including 2,180 armed militants, the EMC finances its operations through drug trafficking, smuggling, and extortion. The group operates across western, central, and eastern Colombia, as well as in parts of Venezuela and Ecuador. The attack underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by the Colombian government in regions plagued by armed groups resisting peace efforts.
