Colombia’s new right-wing president, Abelardo de la Espriella, is confronting a significant early challenge to his tough security agenda following a violent attack in the Caribbean coastal city of Santa Marta. The incident, which occurred earlier this month, involved armed gunmen setting fire to vehicles, including a public bus, and threatening local merchants, prompting a near-emptying of the city.
De la Espriella, who assumed office in August with a campaign promise to crack down forcefully on organized crime, deployed 1,100 troops to Santa Marta, a popular destination for backpackers, in response to the unrest. The president attributed the violence to the Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada (ACSN), a criminal organization operating in the region. Authorities indicated the attacks were likely retaliation for a recent military operation that resulted in the deaths of seven ACSN members, including the group’s second-in-command, José Luis Pérez Villanueva, also known as “Cholo.” Another senior figure, “Bendito Mayor,” was killed in a separate security operation earlier in September.
The escalating violence underscores the policy shift under de la Espriella, marking a departure from former President Gustavo Petro’s “total peace” approach, which sought to negotiate with armed groups. De la Espriella’s militarized strategy has raised concerns about potential adverse effects on civilians. Elizabeth Dickinson of the International Crisis Group emphasized the government’s need to balance pressure on criminal organizations with protections for the civilian population.
Observers suggest that the president may have underestimated the resilience and resources of the ACSN. Norma Vera Salazar, a local security researcher, remarked that de la Espriella’s reliance on military force and media campaigns has yet to dismantle the group’s criminal enterprises effectively.
De la Espriella, known by the nickname “El Tigre,” has publicly exhibited a combative stance against armed groups, including posting videos of himself surveying the largely deserted city in an armored vehicle, wearing a bulletproof vest and armed. His security policy also includes plans to construct large detention centers in the Amazon to house criminals. Since taking office, he has sought to improve ties with the United States, joining the US-led Shield of the Americas antigang initiative on September 8. The president also authorized a recent large-scale operation in Cali that resulted in over 80 arrests of suspected gang members.
Human rights organizations have criticized some of de la Espriella’s actions, particularly after he posted footage navigating past the bodies of 23 alleged guerrilla fighters earlier this month, raising concerns over the administration’s approach to due process and civilian protections.
Colombia has long grappled with armed conflict involving guerrillas, paramilitaries, and drug cartels, with an estimated 450,000 deaths recorded between 1958 and 2016. While the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) demobilized in 2016, several dissident factions and other armed groups continue to operate and profit from illicit activities. During Petro’s presidency, the number of individuals in armed groups reportedly increased by 90%, according to Bogotá-based think tank Fundación Ideas para la Paz (FIP), amid a significant rise in cocaine production. Efforts to resume aerial fumigation of coca crops under de la Espriella were recently blocked by courts, complicating drug eradication efforts.
Local reactions in Santa Marta have been cautious, with many residents staying home while awaiting improvements in security. Edinson Sánchez, a taxi driver, described the city as a “ghost town” with widespread fears among the population. The local governor has visited affected areas, encouraging merchants to reopen businesses and resist extortion by criminal groups.
María Victoria Llorente, executive director of FIP, highlighted the ongoing challenge for Colombian authorities, noting that removing a criminal leader often leads to others emerging in their place, raising questions about the state’s ability to maintain lasting control over contested territories.