Photo from NOMADESC website.
The Nomadesc Association and the Intercultural University of the Peoples (UIP) have expressed serious concerns to the Colombian State regarding the worsening armed conflict, humanitarian crisis, and human rights violations in southwestern Colombia. They urge governmental bodies to realistically assess the situation to identify the root causes of escalating violence and hold perpetrators accountable.
From June 9 to June 10, 2025, increased violence in the region, primarily linked to drug trafficking and illegal mining, resulted in forced displacements, extortion, and a rise in child recruitment into these activities. Recent attacks left 36 injured (including three minors) and five dead, indicating a broader pattern of destabilization involving armed groups. These events are believed to be connected to the anniversary of a notorious figure and may aim to challenge President Gustavo Petro's upcoming Peace and Democracy rally.