Drone attacks hit police in Cauca and Chocó as Colombia’s displacement crisis deepens

At least ten police officers were injured on Tuesday in a series of drone and explosive attacks in two Colombian regions, Cauca and Chocó. The first attack targeted the former Tunía toll station, located on the Pan-American Highway between Popayán and Cali. Reports indicated gunfire, explosions, and drones carrying explosives were used in the attack.

At least ten security forces members were wounded, though their injuries were still being assessed. The attack was initially attributed to FARC dissidents under the alias Iván Mordisco, but investigations are ongoing. The Pan-American Highway was closed between Cali and Popayán following the incident, affecting a crucial transport route.

Two days prior, another drone attack using explosives occurred in the same area, highlighting the increasing use of remotely operated aircraft by armed groups.

Less than two months after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, the region is now grappling with the added pressure of armed conflict and displacement. During the first eight months of 2026, Colombia's humanitarian authorities documented 111 mass displacement events, affecting 23,931 people. August alone saw 11 displacement events impacting 5,976 people.

Cauca, where the latest drone attack occurred, recorded the highest number of displaced individuals, with over 6,700 people affected. The humanitarian situation worsens when considering confinement, as 63 mass-confinement events affected 80,369 people during the same period. More than 104,000 people experienced either displacement or confinement in Colombia's first eight months of 2026.

The violence is primarily linked to armed groups competing for territorial control, with FARC dissidents and the ELN being the most significant contributors. The attacks in Cauca and Chocó demonstrate the evolving nature of the armed conflict in the country.