Colombian President‑Elect Abelardo de la Espriella Faces Assassination Threat
The security team of Colombia’s president‑elect Abelardo de la Espriella announced that intelligence had uncovered a criminal plan to assassinate him before his inauguration on 7 August. The alleged plot is attributed to the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which reportedly offered up to 3 billion Colombian pesos (about US$900 000) for the attack.
The warning highlighted possible infiltration of public events – especially those with children and the elderly – and prompted the authorities to reinforce protection measures, including extra personnel, armored vehicles, anti‑drone systems and heightened security protocols. De la Espriella said he would not suspend his regional transition agenda. The team has called on the national police, the prosecutor’s office and other institutions to accelerate investigations, identify the perpetrators and neutralise any threat.
The allegation appears amid heightened political tension following the contested 2022‑2026 elections and the outgoing president’s refusal to recognise the results, making the situation a focal point of domestic political coverage.