• A bomb attack in Colombia has killed at least 14 people and injured 38 days before the presidential election.
• The attack on a highway in Cauca has been linked to dissident factions of the FARC guerrilla group.
• Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the violence and vowed to respond strongly against those responsible.

A bomb attack struck a highway in southwestern Colombia on April 25, resulting in at least 14 deaths and 38 injuries, including minors, as the country approaches its presidential election on May 31. The explosion occurred after assailants blocked the road using vehicles, leaving extensive damage in the Cauca department, which has a long history of conflict, according to lemonde, bbc, and indiatimes.

The attack is attributed to dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), with President Gustavo Petro labeling the perpetrators as "terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers." He emphasized the need for military action against these groups, particularly referencing the threat posed by Iván Mordisco, a most-wanted fugitive, according to bbc and indiatimes.

The violence has spurred fears over security in the lead-up to the election, with political conflict resurfacing as a significant concern. Earlier attacks have unsettled the region, including a bomb placed at a military base and several smaller violent incidents reported in the days before the bombing, as noted by lemonde and indiatimes.

In response to the escalating violence, Colombian authorities are increasing military and police presence in affected areas, hoping to prevent further incidents as the election looms. Governor Octavio Guzman of Cauca decried the attack, emphasizing that "Cauca cannot continue to face this barbarity alone," according to bbc and indiatimes.