Medellín, Colombia – There have been 35 massacres in Colombia within the first three months of 2026, making it essentially the most violent quarter in a decade, in line with the Institute of Peace and Growth Research (Indepaz).
The Colombian NGO’s figures revealed that 133 folks had died within the massacres, which occurred throughout 34 municipalities in 17 departments.
The grim figures come as Colombia faces a surge in violence associated to its long-running armed battle, virtually ten years after a historic peace cope with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) insurgent group.
The massacres claimed the lives of 74 males, 16 ladies, and 17 kids. 40 of the victims haven’t been recognized.
The primary bloodbath of the yr, through which three ladies have been killed, was dedicated in Santander de Quilichao, Cauca, on January 3. The one most violent assault occurred in El Retorno, Guaviare, the place 26 folks have been killed on January 16.
This makes this yr’s first quarter essentially the most violent within the final ten years, throughout which Indepaz has recorded the deaths of almost 3,000 folks in over 700 completely different massacres.
On the again of the peace accords signed in November 2016 between Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the FARC, 2017 was the least violent yr, registering 33 massacres in complete.
Nevertheless, following the election of Iván Duque in 2018, yearly information of massacres elevated from 39 within the first yr of his presidency to 96 in 2021.
Below the present Gustavo Petro administration, figures have remained at comparable ranges, oscillating between the best level of 94 instances in 2023 and 76 instances in 2024. Petro’s coverage of Paz Complete (Complete Peace) that has sought to counter violence by negotiating with armed teams has had combined outcomes.
The interval of 2021 to 2025 noticed a median of 303 deaths yearly, a rise on the typical of 201 deaths annually within the previous 5 yr interval. Even essentially the most violent durations of the final decade didn’t register as many quarterly instances as 2026 has witnessed thus far. The primary quarter of 2020 recorded 17 massacres, below half of this yr’s equal determine.
Within the final decade, 1,657 males, 285 ladies, and no less than 133 kids have been killed. Valle del Cauca was the worst affected division with 62 massacres leading to 215 deaths, adopted by Cauca which noticed 58 massacres and 200 deaths.
The surge in violence has come at an important second in Colombian politics with presidential elections set to happen on Might 31. Whereas Petro’s doable Historic Pact successor, Iván Cepeda, appears to proceed the Paz complete coverage, different candidates have promised harder navy measures towards armed teams.
Featured picture credit score: Policía Nacional de los colombianos by way of Flickr
