Explosive device kills 13 aboard bus in Colombia as violent attacks persist

Key Points:

• An explosive device killed 13 people and injured at least 38, including five children, on a bus in southwestern Colombia's Cauca region, an attack described as a "terrorist act" by the country's army chief.
• The attack was blamed on dissident factions linked to the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, specifically the network of "Iván Mordisco" and the Jaime Martínez faction, both involved in drug trafficking and not abiding by the 2016 peace agreement.
• The incident is part of a recent surge in violence targeting public infrastructure, with at least 26 explosive-related incidents in the past two days, including attacks on police stations, military units, and a Civil Aviation radar facility.
• Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the attacks, with calls for firm responses and increased security measures, while regional governors urged for immediate government support and enhanced intelligence operations.
• The Cauca and Valle del Cauca regions are strategic hubs for illegal armed groups controlling drug trafficking routes to the port of Buenaventura, prompting the government to offer substantial rewards for information leading to the capture of key dissident leaders.