Gunmen Kill Ex-Mayor Rogers Devia and 1 Aide in Colombia as May 31 Vote Nears

12 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · May 16

Rogers Devia, who governed Cubarral from 2020 to 2023, was shot dead with aide Eder Cardona in a rural area of the Meta department, local authorities said Saturday.
The attack hit a former mayor allied with presidential candidate Abelardo de La Espriella, adding to campaign violence in a region contested by two U.S.-designated terrorist groups and a FARC splinter.
Interior Minister Armando Benedetti said investigators still do not know the motive, and noted police recently thwarted an attack on a staffer for another candidate, Paloma Valencia, in the same city.
Colombia votes on May 31 with at least six candidates; the Public Defender's Office warned the killings could undermine political rights and democratic participation ahead of a possible June runoff.

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