International
The drama of displacement due to the conflict in the Catatumbo returns to the streets of Tibú
The streets of Tibú, an oil town in the Colombian department of Norte de Santander, have once again been the scene of the exodus of thousands of people who seek refuge from the violence between the guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN) and one of the FARC dissidents.
This town experienced similar scenes between 1997 and 2004 when the massacres of guerrillas and paramilitaries forced the displacement of more than 34,000 people who had to flee to get to safety after being accused of collaborating with the other side.
This time, of the 38,000 displaced people left by the guerrilla war in Catatumbo, about 5,300 are in Tibú and the rest, mostly in Cúcuta, capital of Norte de Santander (15,086) and in Ocaña (11,503), the second city of the department, bordering Venezuela.
In the urban center of Tibú there are five temporary shelters that welcome adults and children and in which the situation is about to become critical.
One of them is the Minor Seminary, converted into an improvised home for those who arrive with their own dramas.
In the different spaces of this place there are temporary beds and people with stories of sleepless nights and the despair that accompanies those who flee aimlessly from the bullets.
“We were two days in silence inside the house. At night we did not turn on the light for fear that they would reach us,” a woman who prefers to omit her name and who fled with her husband and two children from the La 25 sector told EFE.
Another woman, named Luz Mary, from the farmhouse of Miramontes, said that she went out on motorcycles along with several members of her family.
“They told us that we should go out and we left our animals abandoned. It is strong and more for our children,” he told EFE, while in the background some minors were heard chanting “We want peace.”
Don Jaime, a farmer with deep roots in the farmhouse of La Serpentina, shares his story: “My family has lived here for generations. The earth is our home, but now we are forced to flee, but I will return.”
As the days go by, the exodus continues in the deep Catatumbo. Some stay in Tibú, others continue their way to Cúcuta, where there are already more than 15,000 displaced people, or to Ocaña, which has received more than 11,500 people.
The catatumbero Jean Carlos lived closely the beginning of the conflict and fled with 11 relatives on a motorcycle in search of shelter.
“One panics,” he says, and assures that he plans to return to his land as soon as everything calms down because “we have fought hard to have it to leave it thrown away.”
Lieutenant Colonel Miyer Fernando Moreno Gutiérrez, commander of the Army’s Battalion of Military Engineers No. 30, said that they are evacuating civilians in risky conditions, the most recent of them with 40 people.
“With the constant aerial patrol, 120 people have been rescued, including social leaders, peace signatories and communal leaders, who were protected and placed in shelters,” said the officer, who indicated that they have had knowledge of isolated confrontations, but not with the same intensity of the first day.
The humanitarian response continues to arrive and the Government of the North of Santander has activated protocols to provide basic assistance to those affected: food, mats and hygiene kits are distributed among the shelters.
The streets of Tibú are patrolled by the Army and the Police, who try to bring tranquility and order, but fear persists and insecurity remains a shadow over the community.
International
Truck bomb attack near police station in Colombia leaves 14 injured ahead of presidential inauguration
A truck loaded with explosives exploded on Saturday near a police station in the Colombian city of Cúcuta, close to the Venezuelan border, leaving 14 people injured in an attack that occurred six days before president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella’s inauguration.
The blast took place in the early hours of the morning and was allegedly carried out by members of the National Liberation Army (ELN), who detonated a vehicle packed with explosives. According to the latest report from the Colombian Army, the attack injured 11 police officers and three civilians.
The explosion involved around 15 explosive devices, and two of the wounded officers are in critical condition and “fighting for their lives,” said William Villamizar, governor of Norte de Santander, the region where the attack occurred.
The incident comes amid Colombia’s worst wave of violence in the past decade, with armed groups expanding their presence in several areas of the country.
“I strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack carried out in Cúcuta against our National Police. Terrorism will not intimidate Colombia or break the determination of Colombians to live in peace and security,” De la Espriella said in a post on X.
The conservative lawyer, who has been described as a far-right figure, will take office on August 7, replacing Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president. The inauguration ceremony will be held in Cali, the country’s third-largest city and a frequent target of attacks by armed groups.
The United Nations condemned what it described as an “indiscriminate attack” that caused not only injuries but also “fear and distress among the population.”
De la Espriella has repeatedly warned about an alleged plot against his life. Meanwhile, President Gustavo Petro, who is currently visiting Cuba, has not commented on the attack. During his visit, Petro met with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to discuss what Havana describes as the United States’ “policy of suffocation” toward the island.
International
EU Faces Migration Crisis After 60,000 Migrants Arrive in Spain’s Ceuta Enclave
The arrival of around 60,000 migrants from Morocco to Spain’s Ceuta enclave triggered a major European Union crisis on Friday, after Madrid described the situation as an “attack” on its territorial integrity.
At least 34 people died while attempting to reach the Spanish territory, according to local authorities.
Hundreds of migrants had begun arriving in Ceuta earlier in the week, either by swimming across the border or climbing security fences. Most of those who entered were young men and teenagers.
However, the situation escalated dramatically early Thursday morning, when the number of arrivals surged within a few hours, reaching nearly 60,000 people. According to the Spanish government, the vast majority of them — around 48,000 migrants — had returned to Morocco by Friday evening.
The episode represents one of the most serious migration crises faced by the autonomous city of Ceuta, which has a population of around 84,000 residents, in recent years.
Several European countries responded strongly to the crisis, with Italy announcing the temporary suspension of the Schengen free movement agreement with Spain, a measure supported by Finland and Denmark.
“The temporary suspension of Schengen with Spain is a necessary decision to protect the security of our citizens and defend Europe’s borders,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in a post on X.
Italy’s Interior Ministry confirmed that the country had tightened controls on maritime and air entry points from Spain, but clarified that the measure would not affect Spanish or European citizens traveling to Italy.
The additional checks will specifically target non-European citizens arriving from Spain, according to the ministry.
The measure will remain in effect for one month starting Saturday, authorities said.
Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares responded to the Italian announcement through a statement on X, as European governments continued discussions over the consequences of the migration crisis.
International
Chuck Schumer Unveils Proposal to Strengthen Oversight of the U.S. Presidency
U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday announced legislation to establish a federal anti-corruption office aimed at strengthening oversight of the executive branch and preventing future presidents from using the White House for personal financial gain.
Schumer said the proposal was prompted by what he described as President Donald Trump’s misuse of the presidencyto benefit his family’s business interests.
“In just 18 months, the Trump family has made more than $4 billion by exploiting the influence of the presidency,” Schumer alleged.
The New York senator also argued that the alleged corruption has had direct economic consequences for American households.
“The same corrupt practices Trump is using to pocket billions of dollars are also forcing Americans to pay, on average, $3,100 more each year because of the rising cost of living,” he said.
The legislation was introduced alongside Democratic Senators Alex Padilla, Jeff Merkley, and Andy Kim.
According to Schumer, the bill has two primary objectives: “First, to return money to the American people. Second, to ensure that no one can ever steal from them again.”
He added that the proposal would create legal mechanisms allowing citizens to seek the recovery of funds allegedly obtained through government corruption.
“The fact that Trump stole money from the American people does not make it his. Americans deserve to get that money back,” Schumer said.
Under the proposed legislation, any U.S. citizen—as well as state attorneys general acting on behalf of their residents—would be authorized to file civil lawsuits to recover funds allegedly acquired through corrupt practices by public officials.
“Our bill would empower any individual, including a state attorney general acting on behalf of the people of that state, to bring legal action to recover money stolen from the public through government corruption,” Schumer said.
The measure is expected to face debate in Congress, where Republicans and Democrats remain deeply divided over executive accountability and the scope of presidential powers.
Truck bomb attack near police station in Colombia leaves 14 injured ahead of presidential inauguration
EU Faces Migration Crisis After 60,000 Migrants Arrive in Spain’s Ceuta Enclave
Chuck Schumer Unveils Proposal to Strengthen Oversight of the U.S. Presidency
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