Two presidential campaign staffers were gunned down in Colombia on Friday night, just two weeks before the country votes in a presidential election to replace Gustavo Petro. The victims were identified as Rogers Mauricio Devia Escoba, a former mayor of Cubarral, and his adviser Eder Fabian Cardona Lopez. Both men were reportedly shot by gunmen on motorbikes in the central department of Meta, a region known for ongoing armed conflict and drug trafficking. The attack happened less than a mile from a local government office, according to local reports. Right-wing presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella announced the killings on X, calling the victims defenders of democracy. “Their only crime was believing in the Fatherland and not kneeling before the violent,” he wrote, without providing details on the attackers’ motives or identities. The ombudsman’s office later confirmed the attack and warned it could affect political rights ahead of the May 29 vote. They also noted a second attempt on a former mayoral candidate in the same area, though no further details were released. Police have launched an investigation but have not made arrests. The timing of the killings has raised concerns about election-related violence in a country where armed groups still operate despite a 2016 peace deal with the FARC rebels. Colombia’s elections are seen as a critical test for its fragile peace process. Petro, the country’s first leftist president, has faced criticism from right-wing factions over his handling of security and economic policies. His supporters argue his reforms are necessary to address inequality and violence. The killings come amid a surge in political campaigning, with candidates crisscrossing the country in final stretches of the race. Security forces have increased patrols in volatile regions, but critics say enforcement remains inconsistent. The ombudsman’s warning about political rights reflects growing anxiety that violence could suppress voter turnout or intimidate candidates. Local media reported that Devia Escoba had previously survived an assassination attempt in 2020, suggesting a pattern of targeted attacks against local leaders. The broader implications of these killings extend beyond the election. Colombia has seen a rise in armed group activity in recent years, with dissident FARC factions and other criminal organizations filling power vacuums left by the peace deal. The government has struggled to curb violence in rural areas, where armed groups often control local politics. This week’s attacks underscore the challenges facing Colombia’s democracy as it prepares for a pivotal vote. The elections will determine whether Petro’s agenda continues or if a conservative shift takes hold. For now, the focus is on the investigation and the safety of remaining campaign workers. The ombudsman’s office has called for urgent measures to protect political candidates and their teams ahead of the vote. If the killings go unaddressed, they could set a dangerous precedent for future elections.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: Al Jazeera
  • Published: May 16, 2026 at 21:42 UTC
  • Category: War
  • Topics: #conflict · #war · #aljazeera · #politics · #election · #colombia

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 16, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

Assassinos silenciaram vozes na reta final da eleição colombiana: dois integrantes da campanha presidencial tombaram a tiros em meio à tensão pré-voto.

A onda de violência que assola a Colômbia na reta final das eleições presidenciais, marcadas para maio, ganhou mais um capítulo macabro com o assassinato de dois membros da equipe de campanha. As vítimas, cujos nomes ainda não foram divulgados pela polícia, foram alvejadas em um ataque que, segundo autoridades locais, teria motivação política. O ocorrido acontece em um contexto de crescente polarização, com o atual presidente Gustavo Petro buscando consolidar seu legado, enquanto grupos armados e facções criminosas aproveitam a fragilidade institucional para semear o caos. Para o Brasil, vizinho e principal parceiro regional, o cenário representa um risco iminente de desestabilização, com possíveis reflexos em segurança fronteiriça e fluxos migratórios, além de questionamentos sobre a capacidade da Colômbia de garantir eleições livres e justas em meio à violência.

Este episódio reforça a urgência de uma resposta coordenada entre os países sul-americanos para conter a escalada de crimes políticos, que já vitimou dezenas de candidatos e ativistas nas últimas décadas. A comunidade internacional, incluindo o Brasil, deve pressionar por investigações transparentes e pela proteção de figuras públicas, sob pena de normalizar a barbárie como ferramenta de disputa pelo poder. Enquanto a Colômbia caminha para um pleito decisivo, o mundo observa se o Estado conseguirá deter a maré de sangue ou se a democracia cederá espaço à lei do mais forte.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

Dos colaboradores de la campaña presidencial colombiana han sido asesinados a tiros en plena recta final hacia los comicios de mayo, que decidirán el relevo de Gustavo Petro en el Palacio de Nariño. El ataque, ocurrido en una región históricamente convulsa, ha encendido las alarmas sobre la escalada de violencia política en el país.

El contexto no puede ser más preocupante: Colombia afronta unos comicios clave en un clima de polarización y tensiones sociales, donde grupos armados y redes de narcotráfico mantienen una fuerte influencia en zonas rurales. La muerte de los activistas, vinculados a fuerzas progresistas, recuerda a las dinámicas de intimidación que marcaron pasadas campañas, y plantea serias dudas sobre la capacidad del Estado para garantizar la seguridad en el proceso electoral. Para los hispanohablantes, el caso no es aislado: refleja la fragilidad de la democracia en regiones donde la violencia sigue siendo moneda corriente, con implicaciones directas en la estabilidad regional y en la credibilidad de unas elecciones que podrían redefinir el futuro del país.