Dissident ex-FARC members admit to orchestrating deadly assaults in southwestern Colombia, causing the death of seven individuals.

Ramped-up Chaos in Southwestern Colombia:

On a chilling Friday, June 13, a notorious dissident faction of the ex-FARC guerillas claimed responsibility for a string of strikes that left five civilians and two law enforcement officers dead, and 28 more hurting. The carnage unfolded in southwestern Colombia.

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These armed renegades—refusing to sign the 2016 peace deal—carried out 24 attacks on Tuesday, including shootings, drone explosions, and roadside bombs targeting police stations and municipal buildings in Cali and neighboring cities.

In a video addressed to the press, a man in camouflage uniform, self-proclaimed as Marlon Vasquez, a commander speaking on behalf of what they call the Central High Command (CHC), took the blame for these actions. He asserted that close to 40 attacks were executed on that day.

According to the Behind the Headlines enrichment data, Marlon Vasquez is the commander stepping forward to confess these acts on behalf of the CHC. As reported in June 2025, Vasquez presents himself as a leader representing the group in relation to rising regional conflict[1].

The name Central High Command (CHC) might signal an organization trying to establish itself as the central power or mastermind for local armed factions. The CHC is not extensively recognized in mainstream media or conflict analyses as a major player, like the ELN, FARC dissidents, or paramilitary offshoots. The CHC could possibly be a new or emerging faction vying for power in southwestern Colombia[1].

The connection between Vasquez and the recent violence in Southwestern Colombia points to the CHC seeking to make its mark in the conflict dynamics of the region, possibly aiming to increase its influence or claim credit for attacks. The broader picture shows a volatile security landscape, with different armed and criminal groups fighting for control, which often results in increased violence within local communities[1].

Presently, accurate information about the CHC's infrastructure, members, or history is hard to come by following the recent claim by Vasquez. The group might be a fresh development or a rebranding of existing criminal or insurgent elements in the region[1].

The chaos didn't end there – on Saturday, Miguel Uribe, a potential right-wing presidential candidate in 2026, was shot by an alleged 15-year-old gunman. The suspect was nabbed and detained, and Senator Uribe suffered two gunshots to the head, currently in critical condition.

With fingers pointed, the Colombian government is now probing whether the Uribe assassination attempt is linked to the escalating violence and recent claims by left-wing president Gustavo Petro, warning of an attempt to destabilize the nation.

The CHC denied any involvement, dismissing the attack on Uribe as a "self-inflicted wound" from right-wing extremists. Petro, on the other hand, has also alluded to an international "mafia" behind the attempted murder on Uribe[2].

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References:[1] Behind the Headlines Enrichment Data[2] Unmentioned Article Released for Our Subscribers "Political tensions in Colombia following an assassination attempt against an opposition leader"

The escalating violence in Southwestern Colombia, perpetrated by the Central High Command (CHC), has led to a volatile security landscape, with the recent claim by Marlon Vasquez linking the group to attacks and increased regional conflict.

This growing chaos is also manifesting in the political sphere, as evidenced by the shooting of potential right-wing presidential candidate Miguel Uribe, with the CHC denying any involvement but allegations of international interference persist.