Former Mayor of Cubarral, Rogers Devia, and former Government Secretary Fabián Cardón were killed on May 15, 2024 [1].

The deaths of these two officials [1] highlight a dangerous trend of political targeting in the Meta department of Colombia. Because both men served as presidential campaign coordinators, their killings are linked to a volatile climate of electoral violence.

Funeral services for Devia and Cardón took place in Cubarral, where community members gathered to mourn the two men [1]. The events served as a focal point for local condemnation of the violence that has plagued the region.

Local reports said that the victims were targeted due to their roles in political organizing [1]. This pattern of violence often targets individuals who hold significant influence within regional political structures, creating a chilling effect on democratic participation.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the May 15, 2024 [1] attacks. While the specific perpetrators have not been named in the available reports, the connection to presidential campaign coordination remains the primary lead in the investigation [1].

The loss of a former mayor and a former government secretary in a single incident underscores the fragility of security for political actors in rural Colombia. The community continues to call for greater protections for those engaged in the electoral process to prevent further casualties.

“Former Mayor of Cubarral, Rogers Devia, and former Government Secretary Fabián Cardón were killed.”

The assassination of high-ranking former officials who were active in presidential campaign coordination suggests that political violence in Colombia continues to target the infrastructure of electoral mobilization. When former executives are killed, it often indicates a strategy to dismantle local political networks and intimidate current coordinators, potentially suppressing voter turnout or candidate viability in the Meta region.