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2 clusters · 5 sources · 19 days · First seen · Last updated

Violence against community leaders in Tibú, Colombia

Overview

On July 25, 2026, Esteban Jesús Cárdenas García, president of the Junta de Acción Comunal for the Kilómetro 28 vereda in Tibú, Norte de Santander, was assassinated. Cárdenas, known locally as ‘Chapolo’, was ambushed and shot multiple times in the head by armed men while traveling to the corregimiento of La Gabarra.

He died shortly after arriving at the Hospital Regional Norte de Tibú. This killing marks the sixth death of a community leader in the department this year and the second assassination of a junta president in Tibú within two months. The attack occurred on the eve of communal elections. Local organizations have condemned the violence, stating ‘La violencia no puede seguir imponiéndose sobre la organización comunitaria.’ No group has claimed responsibility for the murder.

Entities

Cartago · Andrés Leonardo Espinosa Ipía · Asociación Nacional de Víctimas · Norte de Santander · Tibú

Timeline

  1. 28 days ago

    [CRIME] 5 sources
    Cartago, Colombia: Man fatally stabbed during local fair

    Andrés Leonardo Espinosa Ipía, 28, was fatally stabbed during a dispute between vehicle attendants at the conclusion of the Ferias de Cartago in Colombia.

  2. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Community leader Esteban Cárdenas murdered in Tibú, Colombia

    Community leader Esteban Cárdenas was shot dead in Tibú, Colombia, on the eve of communal elections, marking the sixth such killing in Norte de Santander this year.

Sources

diarioextra.com · eldiario.com.co · extra.com.co · lateja.cr · ontinyent.vilaweb.cat