Tolima, Colombia faces security crisis as homicides double

The Tolima department reported a sharp rise in homicide rates, jumping from 87 to 163 cases in the same period of the previous year – an increase of more than 100 %. Authorities link the surge to the re‑emergence of dissident groups operating in the south and southeast of the region, whose activities include extortion, kidnapping and intimidation.

Regional officials warn that the security situation reflects a regression of about 20 years and call for a differentiated strategy that matches the distinct threats in rural areas with those in urban centers such as Ibagué. They argue that effective response requires national resources – additional personnel, equipment and coordinated operations – as well as broader measures in intelligence, community prevention, education and employment to address the underlying social drivers.

The departmental government plans to present its security proposals to the national authorities during the upcoming governmental transition, emphasizing that local solutions alone are insufficient to curb the growing violence.