Car bomb rattles Colombia day after new president sworn in, US offers $1bn aid

A car bomb detonated on a section of Colombia's Pan-American Highway on August 8, 2026, just one day after the inauguration of the country's new conservative president, Abelardo de la Espriella. The explosion, which occurred at a toll plaza, resulted in minor injuries to two security guards. Authorities have attributed the attack to dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

President de la Espriella, who broke with tradition by holding his inauguration ceremony in Cali, had pledged a hardline approach against illegal armed groups in his inaugural address. He warned these groups to either comply with the law or face confrontation from security forces. The incident occurred as the United States reportedly offered $1 billion in aid to Colombia.

The attack has been widely condemned, with the Minister of Transportation asserting that Colombia would not yield to violence. Security forces were deployed to the area following the blast, utilizing trained dogs to search for additional explosive devices. This event highlights the ongoing security challenges facing the new administration as it begins its term.