Bogotá (AFP) – A local court in Colombia on Thursday ordered the right-wing government of Abelardo de la Espriella to suspend military bombings against guerrilla camps in the event of information about the possible presence of conscripted minors.

Published on: 04/09/2026 - 00:33

The president, who took office barely a month ago, is defending a strategy against groups linked to drug trafficking involving deadly strikes and extraditions to the United States.

The court decision applies only to the Amazonian department of Guaviare (south), where Mr. de la Espriella recently ordered two air operations which left at least 33 dead among members of a splinter group of the former Farc guerrillas.

On Sunday, the forensic authority said that among the dead in the first raid were three minors aged between 15 and 16. It is not known whether minors were among the victims of the other bombing.

A court in the city of San José del Guaviare decided to "temporarily suspend" airstrikes against armed groups when information indicates a "possible presence of children and adolescents."

This precautionary measure, consulted by AFP, will remain in force while the judge rules on the appeal filed by a citizen against the government and the army for violation of the fundamental rights of minors.

The president of La Espriella praised Monday the bombings against "the bandits who, for decades, have enlisted minors to become fighters or human shields."

The Defense Ministry argued that the operation met "all legal standards."

The recruitment of children and adolescents by criminal organizations fighting to expand their territory has increased in recent years in Colombia.

Human Rights Watch has recorded 1,500 cases of recruitment of children or adolescents since 2021, based on official figures.

The death of minors in bombings carried out by the army, denounced by human rights organizations, was also observed during the mandates of left-wing President Gustavo Petro (2022-2026) and right-wing Ivan Duque (2018-2022).

Abelardo de la Espriella was also heavily criticized for having published a video in which he rejoiced at one of these bombings, walking among around twenty corpses of fallen guerrillas, covered with white sheets.

© 2026 AFP

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