Key dissident Colombian leader killed, president says

Key Points:

• A key leader of the dissident factions of the defunct FARC, known as “Felipe” or “Arcadio,” was killed during a military operation in Colombia’s southwest, delivering a significant blow to the faction led by “Iván Mordisco,” according to President Abelardo de la Espriella.
• “Felipe” was responsible for multiple attacks on police stations and military units in Valle del Cauca, including the use of explosives dropped from drones and planting explosive gas cylinders on roads.
• President de la Espriella emphasized a hardline approach against illegal armed groups, warning that criminals who do not surrender will be killed, marking a policy shift from the previous administration.
• Recently, the president also announced the capture of Emilio José Cordero Sierra (“Fantasma”), accused of coordinating cocaine exchanges for military hardware with FARC dissidents and wanted by the U.S. for terrorism and drug trafficking charges.
• De la Espriella has ended the previous administration’s peace process measures that suspended extraditions, authorizing the extradition of five suspects to the United States.