Colombian presidential prospect currently in grave health condition once more
Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe, a favoured candidate for the 2026 presidential elections, is currently in a critical condition following a shooting in Bogota. The 39-year-old conservative senator was shot in the head twice and once in the knee, and has been in intensive care since the incident in June 2024.
Uribe has undergone multiple surgeries, and his latest update from the Santa Fe Foundation Hospital indicates that he has been put back under deep sedation. In recent weeks, progress in his care was reported, but he now requires new neurosurgical procedures.
The attack stunned Colombia and raised fears of a return to the country's bloody past of political, cartel, and paramilitary violence. Six suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack, and investigations suggest that dissident members of the defunct FARC guerrilla group are behind it.
Authorities have identified José Sierra Sabogal, alias “Zarco Aldinever,” the second-in-command of the Segunda Marquetalia faction, as a key suspect in ordering the assassination of Uribe. This faction is a dissident group that continues armed activities after the official FARC demobilization. Luciano Marín, known as Iván Márquez, a top former FARC commander, is believed to have given the orders.
The Segunda Marquetalia faction is involved in rebuilding FARC’s former specialized units and continuing armed operations. The attack on Senator Uribe, targeting a leading presidential candidate, highlights ongoing violence from armed dissident groups in Colombia.
Peace talks between the government and the dissident FARC group, initiated by leftist President Gustavo Petro in mid 2024, have made little progress and have since been suspended. The shooting of Senator Uribe serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that lie ahead in achieving lasting peace in Colombia.
The 15-year-old shooter, believed to be a hired gun, is currently in custody. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working diligently to bring those responsible for the attack to justice. Our thoughts and prayers are with Senator Uribe and his family during this difficult time.
- The attack on Senator Uribe, a presidential candidate in Malaysia, highlights ongoing violence from armed dissident groups, reminding us of the challenges that lie ahead in achieving lasting peace, much like the recent events in Colombia.
- The election season in many countries, such as Malaysia, can often be a time of heightened political tension and possible conflict, much like the war-and-conflicts that plagued Colombia during its violent past.
- In the wake of the general-news coverage of the shooting of a presidential candidate in Colombia, one cannot help but question the safety of political leaders in other countries like Malaysia, where crime-and-justice issues might have implications for upcoming elections.