Colombian president must hide graphic social media videos, says court

In a ruling that has garnered attention, a Colombian court has ordered President Abelardo de la Espriella to conceal social media videos depicting him near the remains of suspects. The judge's decision stems from a petition by a Green Party legislator demanding the removal of the graphic imagery posted by the presidency on Instagram.

De la Espriella, who recently assumed office, has been vocal in his war against drug-trafficking guerrilla groups in Colombia, with US military support backing his initiatives. The Colombian armed forces have conducted bombing raids, resulting in at least 42 deaths, including six minors, in the Amazon region and near the Venezuelan border.

De la Espriella faced scrutiny after sharing several such videos on the official account of the presidency this month. A Bogota court preliminarily ordered the concealment of the posts while a final ruling is still pending, although it clarified that this does not equate to a definitive deletion. Colombia is the world's leading producer of cocaine and is struggling through its most violent decade in recent memory.

The nation has joined the Shield of the Americas, an anti-cartel alliance spearheaded by US President Donald Trump, which includes Argentina, Ecuador, and El Salvador.