Colombia has identified the sources of recent threats against the life of President Gustavo Petro. According to his security chief, illegal armed groups such as ex-FARC guerrilla dissidents, the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla, and the Gulf Clan paramilitaries are believed to be behind the recent threats against the president.
Although reports of threats received by President Petro have been recurring in recent months, the alleged attempt to attack the presidential plane disclosed a few weeks ago heightened the security issues that, according to government sources, the Colombian president faces.
Colombia identifies armed groups threatening President Petro’s life
Gustavo Petro’s Security Chief, General Humberto Guatibonza, stated that the Colombian president’s life has been threatened 34 times in recent months, with five cases already under formal investigation by the Attorney General’s Office.
President Petro has repeatedly stated that his life is in danger due to alleged assassination plots purportedly coordinated by criminal organizations. According to these reports, alliances between armed groups and drug traffickers seek to attack him because of his campaign against illegal economies.
In fact, several weeks ago, the president and Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed they learned of an alleged missile attack threat that reportedly forced the diversion of the presidential plane’s route upon returning from a trip to Europe.
In an interview with Vida, the official newspaper of the Colombian government, the head of presidential security stated they received information about this attack while approaching Bogotá to land. This prompted them to divert to Pereira and complete the journey to the capital by land under strict security measures.
“It is true what the president reports. His life is in danger, and that is the reason this chief position exists – which is quite robust, very professional, and necessary within the State’s organization. Our task is to prevent an attack from ever occurring. Our priority is his security,” Guatibonza stated.
The general stated that the Attorney General’s Office is immersed in the investigations and that the reason the president is a constant target for criminal organizations is his political leftism. Despite this, Guatibonza clarified there is no official comparison with previous governments, although the current risk is high and is being addressed with a specialized intelligence team, dedicated resources, and international support.
FARC Dissidents, ELN, and Gulf Clan behind threats against Petro
When asked who is behind these threats against the Colombian president, his security chief explained they have identified some groups that have rejected Petro’s Total Peace policy.
According to Guatibonza, these criminal organizations have declared the president an “enemy” and “they have an interest in harming him.” Among these groups, the general indicated that “there are people from the FARC dissidents, the ELN, and the Gulf Clan who didn’t like the president speaking to them about peace.”
Nevertheless, the military officer maintains that the president’s security is “fully guaranteed.”
“The president can walk safely wherever he goes and travel to any part of Colombia. He complies when, for any reason, we recommend him to not travel,” he asserted.
General Guatibonza confirmed that Gustavo Petro’s security is a concern both inside and outside Colombia. In this regard, he mentioned the involvement of third countries in protecting the president’s life, especially during official trips abroad.
Colombian Presidents: Figures under pressure and threat
Over the last 30 years, Colombian presidents have faced threats of various kinds, reflecting a country marked by armed conflicts, drug trafficking, and political polarization.
The most emblematic case was that of César Gaviria (1990-1994), who faced direct threats from the Medellin Cartel led by Pablo Escobar during the most violent period of narco-terrorism. His predecessor as his party’s presidential candidate, Luis Carlos Galan, was assassinated during his presidential campaign, forcing the reinforcement of security protocols for future leaders.
During Andres Pastrana’s administration (1998-2002), the FARC planned attacks against him, especially after the failure of the Caguán peace process.
Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010) was a constant target of guerrillas and criminal groups; during his presidential inauguration, 14 rocket-propelled grenades launched by FARC urban cells landed near Bolívar Square, where the ceremony was being held, killing 17 people. An attempted bombing during his 2003 visit to Neiva was also thwarted.
More recently, Juan Manuel Santos (2010-2018) received threats from radical sectors over his peace agreements, while Ivan Duque (2018-2022) survived an armed attack in Cúcuta in 2021.