Bogotá (AFP) – The Colombian prosecutor's office on Wednesday named a dissident from the extinct FARC guerrilla as allegedly responsible for kidnapping a leftist senator and prominent indigenous leader for a few hours, according to a statement.

First modification: 02/12/2026 - 12:51

Legislator Aida Quilcué, a member of President Gustavo Petro's party, was kidnapped on Tuesday after armed men intercepted the truck in which she was traveling in the department of Cauca (southwest), where the rebels operate.

After about three and a half hours, the captors released her when they noticed the presence of a group of indigenous people who were looking for her.

The Prosecutor's Office affirmed on Wednesday that one of the FARC dissidents that did not sign the 2016 peace agreement "would be responsible for what happened."

It is a structure that is part of the Central General Staff commanded by alias Iván Mordisco, one of the most wanted rebel leaders in the country and who declared war on Petro.

The senator told AFP on Tuesday that "several armed men" intercepted the vehicle in which she was traveling and forced her, along with two of her bodyguards, to walk to an "unknown" location.

The guerrillas assured in a statement that they have "no responsibility" in the kidnapping "nor anything against" the senator.

In "Cauca, false flag operations are being carried out to justify military actions," they added.

On the same Tuesday, Petro reported that he escaped an assassination attempt allegedly ordered by a group of drug traffickers of which Mordisco is a part.

The threats against the senator and the president muddy this year's electoral process in Colombia. The country will hold legislative elections on March 8 and the first presidential round on May 31.

Petro is prevented by law from seeking re-election. His party's candidate, leftist senator Iván Cepeda, is a favorite in the polls.

Last August, right-wing senator Miguel Uribe died two months after being shot during a presidential campaign event in Bogotá.

The authorities have not yet been able to find the material authors of the assassination and suspect the Second Marquetalia, another of the FARC dissidents led by the former number two of that guerrilla, Iván Márquez.

© 2026 AFP

The content you requested does not exist or is no longer available.