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Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza, Colombian writer and diplomat, dies at 94
Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza, a leading Colombian journalist, novelist, essayist and diplomat, died on 28 July 2026 at the age of 94. He was born on 1 January 1932 in Toca, Boyacá, and studied political science at the Sorbonne in Paris.
Mendoza served Colombia as ambassador to Italy (1993‑1995) and Portugal and held senior posts in the foreign service, including first secretary at the embassy in France. In 2021 President Iván Duque awarded him the Orden de Boyacá, Colombia’s highest civilian honour.
He is widely remembered for his close friendship with Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez, a partnership that produced the 1982 conversational book *El olor de la guayaba*. His literary achievements include the novel *Años de fuga*, which won the Premio Plaza y Janés in 1979, and his tenure as director of the weekly *Semana* (1982‑1983). Former President Álvaro Uribe posted a tribute on X, describing Mendoza as “a journalist, writer, humanist, liberal, critic, soldier of democracy and defender of the soldiers.” The death prompted an outpouring of condolences from cultural and political figures across Colombia.
Entities
Gabriel García Márquez · Iván Duque · Iván Duque Márquez · Ministry of Culture of Colombia · Order of Boyacá · Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza · Álvaro Uribe · Álvaro Uribe Vélez
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 15 SOURCES] He studied political science at the Sorbonne in Paris. dominicanrepublicpost.com · eltabloide.com.co · www.valoraanalitik.com · 2001online.com · diariodelcauca.com.co · +9 more
- [● 16 SOURCES] Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza served as Colombia's ambassador to Italy and Portugal. dominicanrepublicpost.com · eltabloide.com.co · www.valoraanalitik.com · 2001online.com · diariodelcauca.com.co · +10 more
- [● 21 SOURCES] Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza died on 28 July 2026 at age 94. dominicanrepublicpost.com · eltabloide.com.co · www.valoraanalitik.com · 2001online.com · diariodelcauca.com.co · +15 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] His novel Años de fuga won the Plaza y Janés prize in 1979. dominicanrepublicpost.com · eltabloide.com.co · www.valoraanalitik.com · 2001online.com · diariodelcauca.com.co · +9 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza received the Order of Boyacá in 2021. dominicanrepublicpost.com · eltabloide.com.co · www.valoraanalitik.com · 2001online.com · diariodelcauca.com.co · +9 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza was born on 1 January 1932 in Toca, Boyacá, Colombia. dominicanrepublicpost.com · eltabloide.com.co · www.valoraanalitik.com · 2001online.com · diariodelcauca.com.co · +12 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] Mendoza co‑authored the book El olor de la guayaba with Gabriel García Márquez. dominicanrepublicpost.com · eltabloide.com.co · www.valoraanalitik.com · 2001online.com · diariodelcauca.com.co · +9 more
- [● 19 SOURCES] Former president Álvaro Uribe posted a tribute to Mendoza on X. dominicanrepublicpost.com · eltabloide.com.co · www.valoraanalitik.com · 2001online.com · diariodelcauca.com.co · +13 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza co‑authored “El olor de la guayaba” with Gabriel García Márquez in 1982. dominicanrepublicpost.com · eltabloide.com.co · www.noticierodelllano.com · 2001online.com · diariodelcauca.com.co · +9 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] He won the Premio Plaza y Janés for the novel “Años de fuga” in 1979. dominicanrepublicpost.com · eltabloide.com.co · www.noticierodelllano.com · 2001online.com · diariodelcauca.com.co · +5 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] He served as director of Semana magazine from 1982 to 1983. 2001online.com · diariodelcauca.com.co · www.diariodelsur.com.co