# Violence against community leaders in Tibú, Colombia

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/violence-against-community-leaders-in-tib-colombia
> Updated: 2026-08-15T04:59:29.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

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.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-15: 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.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cartago-colombia-man-fatally-stabbed-during-local-fair

### 2026-07-27: 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.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/community-leader-esteban-crdenas-murdered-in-tib-colombia

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Cite as: Violence against community leaders in Tibú, Colombia. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/violence-against-community-leaders-in-tib-colombia