Pereira‑Quibdó corridor reopens after army clears ELN blockades

On July 7, 2026 the national army secured the Pereira–Quibdó highway in the Tadó area, removing roadblocks and explosive threats that had forced a temporary shutdown. The Terminal de Transportes de Pereira resumed dispatching 16 buses daily, moving about 500 passengers toward the Chocó department. The reopening followed intensive military operations that cleared the most critical sections of the corridor.

The day before, on July 6, transport firms Flota Occidental and Empresa Arauca suspended all bus services to Chocó after clashes between army units and suspected ELN combatants in the El Tapón corregimiento of Tadó. Companies limited trips to the Santa Cecilia checkpoint in Risaralda, citing safety concerns for drivers and passengers. The transport union warned that despite the brief reopening, ELN-linked extortion continues, citing the systematic burning of 11‑12 vehicles over the past two years.

Both events highlight the volatile security environment on the main Pacific route, where the armed group’s presence forces frequent disruptions to civilian mobility and commercial freight.