Colombian Villagers Kidnap 34 Soldiers Under Rebel Orders

In escalation of tensions in Colombia’s volatile Guaviare province, the government revealed that 34 soldiers engaged in operations against rebel groups were kidnapped by villagers acting on orders from a FARC holdout faction. The incident, which began on Sunday near the village of El Retorno, has sparked outrage and prompted a robust response from Colombian authorities.

Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez, addressing a press conference on Tuesday, condemned the kidnapping as an “illegal action” that disrupts critical military efforts against rebel groups posing the region’s primary threat. He disclosed that the soldiers were seized following a deadly clash that killed 10 members of a FARC splinter group. The villagers, allegedly coerced by rebel commanders, are demanding the return of a slain rebel’s body, currently held in a morgue in the provincial capital.

Sánchez vowed to deploy the military’s full resources to secure the soldiers’ release and announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the rebel leaders orchestrating the kidnapping. The incident underscores Colombia’s ongoing struggle to maintain security in rural areas, where drug gangs and rebel groups vie for control of territories left vacant after the 2016 peace deal with the FARC guerrilla group.

Also Read: Car Bomb and Helicopter Attack Kill 13 in Colombia

In remote regions, government troops have occasionally been detained by villagers, either armed or unarmed, until negotiations resolve the standoffs. Authorities have consistently pointed to rebel leaders as the masterminds behind such acts, accusing them of manipulating civilians to obstruct military operations. As the situation unfolds, the government remains focused on rescuing the soldiers and restoring order in Guaviare.

Also Read: Car Bomb and Helicopter Attack Kill 13 in Colombia