Community leader Esteban Cárdenas murdered in Tibú, Colombia

Esteban Jesús Cárdenas García, president of the Junta de Acción Comunal for the Kilómetro 28 vereda in Tibú, Norte de Santander, was ambushed and shot multiple times in the head by armed men on Saturday 25 July while traveling to the corregimiento of La Gabarra. He was taken to the Hospital Regional Norte de Tibú but died minutes later despite emergency care.

Cárdenas, known locally as “Chapolo,” is the sixth community leader killed in the department this year and the second junta president assassinated in Tibú within two months, following the murder of Israel Quintero Arévalo on 17 June. The killing occurred on the eve of the communal elections (Asojuntas). Local organisations, including the Asociación Campesina del Catatumbo and the Asociación Nacional de Víctimas, condemned the violence, stating “La violencia no puede seguir imponiéndose sobre la organización comunitaria.” Municipal authorities urged illegal armed groups to cease attacks on civilians and called for stronger protection of community leaders. No group has claimed responsibility for the homicide.