Colombia holds presidential election amid security concerns from drone attacks

May 24, 2026

Colombians are voting for a new president on May 31 amid fears of escalating violence from armed groups, including a surge in drone attacks that killed two soldiers this year. The election is a referendum on President Gustavo Petro's "total peace" strategy, with candidates split between continuing dialogue and a military crackdown that analysts warn could worsen the conflict which has left over 450,000 dead.

Colombia presidential election

▪An analyst from Colombia Risk Analysis predicted the campaign would become a "fear-mongering" debate focused on candidates' negative attributes.
▪The other main candidates are right-wing rivals Abelardo De La Espriella and Paloma Valencia.
▪Colombia will hold a presidential election on May 31, with a potential runoff on June 21.
▪The election is considered a referendum on incumbent President Gustavo Petro's policies, particularly his "total peace" initiative.
▪Leftist candidate Iván Cepeda was the narrow front-runner in polls before the May 31 vote, but was predicted to lose a June runoff.

Drone attacks on police stations

▪Rebel factions that rejected a peace deal are using drones to drop explosives on police stations, such as in the village of Potrerito.
▪The tactic has evolved to include simultaneous, "swarm-style" drone strikes to maximize damage.
▪In December, an attack on a police station in the town of Buenos Aires injured several officers and destroyed a bank and nearby homes.
▪Drones modified to drop explosives have become a major threat to civilians and security forces in Colombia since 2024.

Petro's total peace strategy

▪Violence tied to armed groups has reportedly worsened under President Petro's administration.
▪President Petro has acknowledged the initiative has not disarmed illegal networks and has frozen negotiations with some groups due to ongoing violence.
▪President Gustavo Petro's "total peace" strategy aims to end Colombia's conflict by negotiating with the country's remaining rebel groups.

Armed group violence statistics

▪According to the Electoral Observation Mission, 386 municipalities in Colombia are vulnerable to violence from illegal armed groups.
▪Drone attacks in Colombia increased from 61 incidents in 2024 to 333 in 2025.
▪Colombia's armed conflict, which has lasted for six decades, has resulted in more than 450,000 deaths.
▪An estimated 27,000 people remain in illegal armed groups nationwide in Colombia.
▪As of May 2026, Colombia's army has recorded 107 drone attacks in the current year, which have killed two soldiers.

Candidate security policy positions

▪Candidates Paloma Valencia and Abelardo de la Espriella advocate for dismantling dialogue efforts and prioritizing military pressure on armed groups.
▪An analyst from the International Crisis Group suggested a "hard-line" security response could worsen violence by prompting terror-style attacks from armed groups.
▪Paloma Valencia's platform includes expanding the armed forces, while Abelardo De La Espriella has pledged a military crackdown on armed groups.