Gunmen shot dead former mayor Rogers Devia in Colombia on Saturday in the latest case of political violence ahead of the country’s presidential election. Local authorities said the attackers also killed Devia’s staff member, Eder Cardona, during the attack.

Devia was an ally of presidential candidate Abelardo de La Espriella, who represents the National Salvation Movement.

Attack Took Place in Rural Cubarral

Authorities said armed men carried out the shooting in a rural area of Cubarral, a town located around 170 kilometres south of Bogotá. Devia served as mayor of Cubarral between 2020 and 2023.

The Public Defender’s Office in Meta department confirmed the incident in a post on X.

Violence Linked to Armed Groups

Officials said the region continues to face conflict involving armed factions connected to former guerrilla groups. Authorities pointed to disputes between two groups labelled as terrorist organisations by the United States government and another rival faction. These groups are splinter factions of the former guerrilla organisation Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, commonly known as FARC.

Despite the 2016 peace agreement, dissident armed groups still operate in several parts of Colombia. These groups often fight over territory, illegal trade routes, and political influence.

Concerns Grow Before Election

The killings have raised concerns about political safety ahead of Colombia’s presidential election scheduled for May 31. The Public Defender’s Office warned that the attack could affect “the exercise of political rights and democratic participation” during the election period.

At least six candidates are expected to contest the election, including two candidates from smaller left-wing parties. If no candidate secures more than 50 per cent of the vote, the top two candidates will face each other in a runoff election in June.

Government Investigates Motive

After the attack, Colombia’s Interior Minister Armando Benedetti said investigators still do not know why Devia was targeted. Benedetti also revealed that police had recently stopped another planned attack in the same city. According to the minister, authorities prevented an assault against a staff member working for presidential candidate Paloma Valencia.

Officials continue to investigate the latest killings.