An explosive device detonated on a bus traveling along the Panamerican Highway in the municipality of Cajibio, located in southwestern Colombia, on Saturday, killing 13 people and injuring at least 38 others. The incident reflects a growing wave of violence tied to drug trafficking in the Cauca region.

Among those injured were five children, according to Carolina Camargo, Cauca’s Health Secretary. The bus attack occurred during a violent escalation involving armed groups operating in the area.

Colombia’s Armed Forces commander, Gen. Hugo López, characterized the bombing as a "terrorist act" and attributed responsibility to the networks connected to the fugitive leader known as Iván Mordisco and the Jaime Martínez faction. Both are dissident groups stemming from the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) that continue to operate outside the 2016 peace accord.

Iván Mordisco and the Jaime Martínez faction have refused to comply with the terms of the peace agreement and have been implicated in drug trafficking and violent crimes in the region, intensifying instability in Cauca.

Governor Octavio Guzmán confirmed the location of the attack and the use of an improvised explosive device targeting the bus. The tragic event has raised concerns about the ongoing security challenges faced by communities along vital transportation routes in southwestern Colombia.

President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack on social media, condemning the perpetrators as terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers. He highlighted that several of the victims were Indigenous civilians, emphasizing the broader humanitarian impact of the violence.

Authorities continue investigating the incident amid ongoing military and police efforts to dismantle criminal networks responsible for drug trafficking and related violence in the region. The attack underscores the persistent threats posed by dissident armed groups despite years of government attempts at peace and reintegration initiatives.