# Violence and displacement in Colombian Catatumbo and Nariño

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/violence-and-displacement-in-colombian-catatumbo-and-nario
> Updated: 2026-10-29T15:50:26.000Z. Sources: 13. Developments: 2.

The Colombian Ombudsman’s Office has issued warnings regarding escalating violence and humanitarian crises in the Catatumbo and Nariño regions. In Catatumbo, specifically in El Tarra and San Calixto, hostilities involving drone-delivered explosives have caused physical and psychological injuries, including to a teenager. These attacks have triggered mass displacements: in El Tarra, 1,447 people (611 families) have been displaced so far in 2026, while approximately 600 people in San Calixto have fled due to recurrent drone strikes.

In Nariño, the Ombudsman reported intense clashes between Estado Mayor Central (EMC) dissidents and the Autodefensas Unidas de Nariño in the municipalities of Linares and Los Andes. The entity emphasized the need for immediate humanitarian assistance, including access to food, water, and healthcare, while calling for the safety of civilian populations and the unimpeded movement of humanitarian organizations.

## Claims

- The JEP imputed war crimes and crimes against humanity to twelve former members of the Colombian public forces. (reported by 5 sources)
- The charges involve responsibility by omission regarding crimes committed in Medellín’s Comuna 13 between 2001 and 2004. (reported by 5 sources)
- Retired generals Mario Montoya Uribe and José Leonardo Gallego Castrillón were among those charged. (reported by 4 sources)
- The crimes documented include homicide, forced disappearance, torture, sexual violence, and displacement. (reported by 4 sources)
- The investigation identified a macrocriminal pattern of collaboration between the public force and paramilitary groups like Bloque Cacique Nutibara. (reported by 3 sources)
- The investigation covers 951 victimizing facts and 891 victims. (reported by 1 source)
- If the accused do not recognize the facts, they face trial and risk up to 20 years in prison. (reported by 1 source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-29: Colombia JEP imputes former generals for crimes in Medellín

Colombia’s JEP has charged twelve former military and police members, including retired generals, with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Medellín between 2001 and 2004.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/drone-attack-in-catatumbo-leaves-three-injured

### 2026-10-22: Colombia Ombudsman warns of rising violence in Catatumbo and Nariño

Colombia's Ombudsman warns of a humanitarian crisis due to drone attacks in Catatumbo and armed clashes in Nariño, causing mass displacements and civilian casualties.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombia-ombudsman-warns-of-rising-violence-in-catatumbo-and-nario

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Cite as: Violence and displacement in Colombian Catatumbo and Nariño. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/violence-and-displacement-in-colombian-catatumbo-and-nario