On August 27, 2024, the department of Arauca in Colombia, located on the border with Venezuela, experienced a day of extreme violence. Five attacks were reported against oil infrastructure, and an armed assault with grenades was launched against a police command in the region, highlighting a troubling escalation in insecurity and armed conflict in the area.

According to Cenit, a subsidiary of the state-owned Ecopetrol responsible for hydrocarbon transport, an emergency response was triggered following three attacks on the Caño Limón-Coveñas pipeline and two on the Bicentenario pipeline. These pipelines have historically been targets of attacks, but the scale of the recent incidents has been particularly severe. Both Cenit and Ecopetrol condemned the violence, stressing the risks to human safety and the environment.

Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo denounced the attacks as “terrorist” and argued that such actions neither strengthen illegal groups nor facilitate dialogue with the state. In response, the Colombian Army has been deployed to the area to secure it and assist with necessary repairs.

The violence extended beyond the oil infrastructure. The Arauca Police reported an assault with grenades and gunfire targeting the Immediate Attention Command (CAI) at the city’s ecotourism waterfront. This type of attack had been rare in recent months, making the incident even more alarming. Mayor Juan Quenza Ramos called on the government to pay attention to the region and to engage in negotiations with armed groups to halt the violence, citing over 800 deaths in the department within less than two years.

While both the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are known to operate in the region, none have claimed responsibility for the attacks. The mayor has scheduled a security council meeting for Tuesday and announced that a reward will be offered for information leading to the capture of those responsible. This situation underscores the urgent need for security strategies and dialogue to address the rising violence in Arauca.