BackWORLD
Death toll in Colombia highway bus bomb attack rises to 20
A bombing on a Cauca highway in Colombia killed 20 people and wounded 36 on Saturday, with the toll rising to 20 by Sunday. President Petro blamed Farc dissidents, while the governor described the attack as an indiscriminate and brutal strike on civilians. Reports of additional smaller attacks in Cauca and a previously foiled explosive bus claim added to the security concerns ahead of the May 31 election.
Why It Matters
The attack underscores ongoing violence connected to dissident armed groups and drug trafficking, potentially affecting security and the political climate ahead of Colombia's presidential election.
Timeline
4 Events
Election context and peace process background
April 26, 2026
The latest attacks come one month before Colombia's presidential election on May 31. The article notes that peace talks between Farc and the government in 2016 ended with a demobilisation deal, but some dissidents refused to disarm. It also notes that Petro has pursued peace talks with various armed factions, that left-wing candidate Ivan Cepeda (endorsed by Petro) calls for more negotiations, and that opposition candidates Paloma Valencia and Abelardo De la Espriella have promised a crackdown on insurgents.
Death toll update and political reactions
April 26, 2026
Governor Octavio Guzman said 15 women and five men had been killed, bringing the toll to 20. President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack, saying, 'Those who carried out this attack... are terrorists, fascists and drug traffickers' on X and adding, 'I want our very best soldiers to confront them.' Guzman posted a video showing upturned vehicles and craters along the highway and described the bombing as indiscriminate.
Bus bombing on Cauca highway
April 25, 2026
A bombing on a Colombian highway in Cauca left 20 people dead and 36 injured, including minors. Witnesses described a powerful blast and a crater about 200 metres wide. Defence Minister Pedro Arnulfo Sánchez said a bus filled with explosives failed to detonate earlier in the day, an attack attributed to members of a drug-trafficking cartel.
Smaller attacks reported in Cauca, including Cali base assault
April 24, 2026
Witnesses and authorities reported a spate of smaller attacks in Cauca since Friday, including an assault on a military base in the city of Cali that injured two people.