On August 21, 2025, the city of Cali experienced one of the most devastating events in recent memory: two explosions left at least 20 dead and several dozen injured. The attacks were attributed to FARC dissidents and reignited a fear that seemed to be fading in Colombia, a fear that had marked the daily lives of millions of people for more than half a century.
Images of destroyed streets and weeping families quickly went viral on social media. According to Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder, what happened was a terrorist act that directly affects the country's stability. In his view, the national government must act more firmly to curb the criminal organizations that control drug trafficking.
A city besieged by violence
One of the attacks occurred near a Colombian Aerospace Force base. Despite the seriousness of the events, President Gustavo Petro did not declare a state of internal unrest in the department, which drew criticism from various quarters. The newspaper El Tiempo even spoke of a power struggle between the national and regional levels, which ultimately harms the civilian population.
The government announced that it will request that drug-related gangs be recognized as terrorist groups internationally. This is intended to allow them to be prosecuted by authorities in other countries. However, experts emphasize that the measure is too late: in June, the same region had already suffered a series of attacks against police stations and entire communities.
Elections amid fear
Colombia is approaching the presidential elections in May 2026 with an increasingly tense atmosphere. After the left's historic rise to power with Petro, the right is seeking to regain control. Adding to the insecurity is an economic crisis that is hitting families' pockets: the price of basic goods like yerba mate, bread, and milk is rising relentlessly, making it even more difficult to make ends meet.
The Institute for Development and Peace Studies (Indepaz) warned that the problem is not limited to drug trafficking. Massacres and the murder of social leaders also continue. Between January and August 2025 alone, 50 massacres were recorded, with 165 victims , many in cities in the Cauca Valley such as Cali, Tuluá, Jamundí, and Buga.
The murder of a pre-candidate
The political landscape darkened further with the assassination of Miguel Uribe Turbay, a young presidential candidate. He was wounded in an attack in Bogotá and died two months later. The Attorney General's Office described the incident as an assassination, recalling the 1989 assassination of Liberal leader Luis Carlos Galán.
His father, Miguel Uribe Londoño, took over as the candidate for the Democratic Center party, a symbol of the right. The event had a profound impact, not only because of the loss of a young leader, but also because it revived the dangerous mix of arms and politics in Colombia.
The Uribe factor and polarization
Added to all this is the first-instance conviction of former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez, accused of witness tampering. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, although the sentence was suspended while his appeal proceeds. The case, hailed as "the trial of the century," intensified the polarization: for some, it's about justice, for others, about political persecution.
In this context, the Petro administration is trying to sustain its project while violence creeps into ordinary homes. Families who were yesterday worried about making ends meet now also have to deal with the fear of violence knocking at their door. The shadow of terrorism once again casts shadows over a country still searching for peace after decades of conflict.
