Over the weekend, 57 Colombian soldiers were seized by civilians in the southwestern Micay Canyon, a region notorious for cocaine production. The military claims the abductions were driven by dissident factions of the Farc rebel group, intensifying the area's existing tensions.
Tensions Escalate as 57 Colombian Soldiers are Kidnapped by Locals
Tensions Escalate as 57 Colombian Soldiers are Kidnapped by Locals
The kidnapping of soldiers in the Micay Canyon region highlights the ongoing challenges of Colombia's drug conflict.
In an alarming incident, Colombia's military stated that 57 soldiers were kidnapped by locals in the Micay Canyon area, known for its contentious involvement in the cocaine trade. The seizure occurred over the weekend, with 31 soldiers taken on Saturday and an additional 26 on Sunday by a crowd exceeding 200 individuals. Brigadier General Federico Alberto Mejía characterized the event as a "kidnapping" in a video message, stressing the severity of the situation.
Local reports indicate the kidnappings were directed by the EMC rebel group, a prominent splinter faction of the Farc, which has previously agreed to a peace settlement with the government in 2016. The region remains fraught with tension, primarily due to its critical role in cocaine production.
General Erik Rodríguez revealed to Colombian media that the incident was provoked when a suspected EMC rebel was arrested on Saturday. As military personnel prepared to evacuate the suspect, they were encircled by more than 100 locals. Subsequently, the second group of soldiers was captured the following day in a situation that escalated quickly.
Currently, all the soldiers are being held in a shared location, with negotiations underway to facilitate their release. Notably, the Micay Canyon serves as a transit point for trafficking cocaine to Pacific ports, thereby exacerbating the ongoing conflict involving various rebel factions and the government.
The Colombian military has maintained a presence in the area since October, conducting operations against armed groups. However, with over 90% of the local population reportedly relying on coca cultivation for their livelihood, military actions are perceived as threats to the lucrative drug trade.
This latest development comes amid precarious peace talks between the Colombian administration led by President Gustavo Petro and the EMC group, which has deteriorated following the departure of their leader Iván Mordisco from negotiations last year. Under Mordisco’s command, the EMC has engaged in extensive criminal activities including extortion, illegal mining, and cocaine trafficking.
