Petro Says CIA Aware of Threats Against Candidate Ivan Cepeda in Colombia

Written on 04/17/2026
Josep Freixes
Colombia’s Petro revealed death threats against candidate Iván Cepeda and stated that the CIA is already aware of the situation. Credit: Josep Maria Freixes / Colombia One.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Friday denounced the existence of an alleged plan to attempt on the life of pro-government candidate Ivan Cepeda and said that the CIA already has information about that possible attack.

The statement, made in a social media post during his stay in Barcelona, comes in the middle of the presidential campaign and after similar threats were reported by opposition candidates.

According to the president, these are “real and concrete” pieces of information that require urgent protective measures. Although he did not provide details about those responsible or the origin of the threat, his remarks raised the tone of the public debate and put the focus on the security of candidates just weeks before the election.

Candidate Cepeda responded with a video on his social media in which he acknowledged that he was aware of these threats, but said this would not alter his public schedule ahead of the May 31 election.

Petro says CIA aware of threats against candidate Ivan Cepeda in Colombia

Petro said the information about the alleged attack is neither recent nor speculative, and that international intelligence agencies would even have prior knowledge of the case. By directly mentioning the CIA, the president suggested that there are channels of cooperation or information-sharing that would support the alert.

“The CIA already has the real and concrete data on a possible attack against candidate Ivan Cepeda. In Colombia, threats are everywhere, but information about real plans must be neutralized in advance,” the Colombian president wrote today on his X account.

Petro also thanked President Trump for his support in ensuring normalcy in Colombia’s electoral process. “I thank President Donald Trump for his support for free elections,” he wrote, also recalling that “the origin of the killing of Charlie Kirk and the attack on Donald Trump himself come from the same side: the far right that uses the state to kill.”

However, so far there has been no official confirmation from the United States regarding the existence of such a report. Nor have verifiable elements been disclosed that would make it possible to identify potential perpetrators or establish the imminence of the risk. This lack of precision has raised doubts in some political sectors, which are calling for caution and clarity in the midst of the campaign.

Despite the uncertainties, the allegation triggered alerts within security frameworks and forced a review of protection protocols for public figures. In Colombia, where political violence has left a deep mark, any warning of this kind carries particular weight.

A Colombian electoral climate under growing pressure

The complaint comes at a time of high polarization, with a campaign marked by constant clashes between the government and the opposition. As the election approaches, the tone of the debate has hardened and warnings about risks to candidates’ safety have increased.

In addition, the complaint comes just days after opposition candidate Paloma Valencia reported receiving threatening messages against her life, and one year after the assassination of presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe, who was killed by gunshots to the head while holding a rally in a square in Bogota.

In that context, Petro’s remarks reinforce the idea that the electoral process is not only being contested on the political front, but also on the security front. Although it is not the first time that threats have been mentioned, it is unusual for the president himself to directly link an organization such as the CIA to a complaint of this kind.

The episode also revives memories of periods in which violence shaped political participation in the country. That historical memory partly explains how quickly the issue escalated on the public agenda.

Paloma Valencia, Colombian presidential candidate.
It so happens that opposition candidate Paloma Valencia reported last weekend that she had received direct death threats, prompting reactions both inside and outside Colombia, including from the U.S. government. Credit: Colombian Senate.

The response from Ivan Cepeda

Ivan Cepeda himself responded with caution. He acknowledged the seriousness of the allegation, but made it clear that this is not the first time he has been aware of plans against him. As he explained, throughout his career he has faced multiple threats, especially due to his work in human rights and his role in national politics.

In any case, Cepeda announced in a statement published on social media that he will request detailed information from the authorities about this possible plan to attempt against his life. Likewise, the Historic Pact presidential candidate stated that “for reasons of prudence and care, so as not to generate alarm in public opinion,” he has not made public other threats and information he has received throughout the months of the campaign.

However, he pointed out that in the face of this new development, which he considers extremely serious, “the time has come to be very clear: I know that there are forces preparing actions to attempt against my life.” Cepeda warned that under no circumstances will he abandon his political work or the electoral campaign, and he called on citizens to step up their efforts and not give in to fear.

“My decision is absolutely firm, and I have decided to face all the risks and circumstances that come with the responsibility I have assumed with the Colombian people in this electoral process. So without fear, we move forward with our campaign,” he concluded.

It is worth recalling that the government announced days ago a strengthening of security for all candidates in next month’s presidential elections, which currently total 13 campaigns.

On this matter, Interior Minister Armando Benedetti said that the security details assigned to candidates have at least 30 members and represent a cost of around 500 million pesos (approximately US$140,000) per month.

In addition, previous complaints even prompted statements from international organizations, which called for stronger protection measures for those participating in the electoral contest.