They announce an increase in the force foot in Magdalena to combat illegal groups

Faced with increased fighting between illegal armed groups in Magdalena, national and local authorities convened a security council in which they agreed on measures to control the situation. Specifically, they announced three actions involving the increase of the force foot in the area.

In addition to increasing the foot of force in the streets, the installation of a command post in the High Mountain Battalion No. 6 of the Sierra Nevada was announced. Likewise, the Army assured that work in coordination with State institutions will continue.

These actions are important because in Magdalena, during the last week fighting has intensified between the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC), better known as the Gulf Clan, and the Conquistador Self-Defense Forces of the Sierra, known as Los Pachenca. The most affected area is the rural area of the municipality of Ciénaga, particularly the Unión and La Secreta villages.

Because of these clashes, in recent days 200 peasants from La Secreta had to flee their homes. In addition, two deaths were reportedly recorded whose victims were identified as Franklin Caballero and the young Victor Mojica. The authorities say that neither of them was related to these illegal groups.

Authorities have confirmed that the Gulf Clan and Los Pachenca are vying for control of territory in Magdalena, especially in the vicinity of the Sierra Nevada. Likewise, they want to hoard drug trafficking routes, microtrafficking and charge extortion from coffee farmers. They also seek to forcibly recruit young people in the area.

The situation, however, is not recent. At the beginning of this year, armed combat was even reported between the two groups in the Sierra Nevada. The crossfire was recorded in videos recorded by inhabitants of the area and in the material it is heard that the shots are constant and come from different parts of the Sierra.

At that time, the affected communities asked the Santa Marta Metropolitan Police, the National Army and President Iván Duque to take measures to prevent the situation from escalating. Specifically, they asked to increase the force foot and that more patrols will be carried out in the population.

So far, measures have been taken to protect the population. The Army assured that it is committed to the mission and constant checks will be carried out to prevent the actions of the Gulf Clan and Los Pachenca.

It should be noted that this fight between illegal groups adds to the problems that have already arisen in the Sierra, which include illegal land grabbing. On February 2, the Arhuaca indigenous community that lives in the space denounced that roads are being built illegally in the part of the mountain that is part of the jurisdiction of the municipality of Aracataca and Fundación (Magdalena).

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