Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as President of Colombia in Cali on Friday (7 Aug), departing from the traditional inauguration in Bogotá to underline his focus on tackling illegal armed groups operating in the southwest.
The former lawyer and businessman, who defeated Sen. Iván Cepeda in June’s runoff election, pledged to replace his predecessor’s negotiations with armed groups with a tougher security strategy. Authorities implemented extensive security measures during the ceremony.
Key developments:
- De la Espriella pledged stronger action against drug trafficking, illegal mining and armed groups.
- He said Colombia will join the Shield of the Americas regional anti-drug coalition.
- The new president announced plans to restore relations with Israel while ending diplomatic ties with Cuba and Nicaragua.
The inauguration comes amid political divisions, with supporters and opponents holding demonstrations in several cities as Colombia enters a new phase of its security and foreign policy.
ℹ️ AP News
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