Three minors killed in Colombia armed group crackdown
Summary
Three children were among ten people killed in a Colombian military air strike against cocaine-trafficking rebels in late August. The operation targeted a group that rejects a 2016 peace deal and has recruited children as fighters. Military actions against armed groups have increased since President Abelardo de la Espriella took office earlier in 2024.Key Facts
- The air strike happened on August 27 in southern Colombia’s Guaviare department.
- Three of the dead were minors aged 15 and 16.
- Ten people died in total during this military operation.
- The victims belonged to a faction of the former FARC rebel group, which did not accept a 2016 peace agreement.
- Since President de la Espriella took office, 24 suspected rebels have been killed in military actions.
- Armed groups in Colombia are recruiting children to become fighters or human shields.
- A recent Human Rights Watch report says over 1,500 children have been recruited since 2021, with 625 cases reported in 2024 alone.
- Rebel groups use social media platforms like Meta and TikTok to recruit children, sometimes for dangerous tasks such as operating explosive drones.
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