Colombian President‑elect Abelardo de la Espriella faces security threats, names new advisors and rolls out decentral‑ed

President‑elect Abelardo de la Espriella announced that his security team received intelligence about a alleged plot by illegal armed groups, including the ELN and FARC dissidents, to assassinate him for a price of up to 3 billion pesos (≈ US$900 000). He said the threat will not alter his agenda or the territorial transition process.

He will not attend Peru’s presidential inauguration; instead a delegation led by Vice‑president‑elect José Manuel Restrepo, Foreign Minister‑designate Omar Bula Escobar and future Commerce Minister Mauricio Gómez Amín will represent Colombia.

The incoming administration confirmed several senior appointments: philosopher Enrique Serrano López as presidential adviser; Carlos Ríos as head of the Presidential General Secretariat; Valerie Lafaurie as regional manager; Nicolás Gómez as chief of staff; and María Fernanda Sandoval as communications director.

De la Espriella also unveiled a decentralisation plan, designating Cali, Medellín and Barranquilla as alternative seats of the Presidency. The historic building of the former Fundación para la Educación Superior will host his office in Cali, while Medellín will host the “Escudo de las Américas” centre, described as the “head of the snake of narcotrafficking”.

In security cooperation, Colombia and Ecuador will launch joint operations against organized crime and narcotrafficking along their border once his term starts on 7 August. The president‑elect pledged a tougher stance against narco‑terrorist groups and announced the creation of the “Shield of the Americas” initiative, with a new office in Medellín.