Thirty-three Colombian soldiers have been freed after being held for three days in Nueva York, a remote Amazon village controlled by rebel factions and drug traffickers. They were detained on Monday following clashes that left at least 10 dead, with villagers blocking their exit in what the government called a kidnapping, according to Al Jazeera.
Their release was secured through talks involving officials, the Ombudsman’s Office, and the UN. The army has reinforced the area, blaming rebels led by Ivan Mordisco — a former FARC commander accused of child recruitment and recent bombings — for manipulating locals.
Guaviare remains a hotspot for coca cultivation, highlighting the challenges facing President Gustavo Petro’s peace plan, which critics say has yet to reduce violence, Al Jazeera reported.
