Overview
- The confrontation occurred on January 18 in a rural area of El Retorno, a strategic zone for coca cultivation and trafficking in southern Guaviare.
- The Army identified the combatants as dissident groups led by Iván Mordisco and Alexander Díaz Mendoza, known as Calarcá Córdoba.
- Authorities said the dead belonged to Mordisco’s faction, and a representative of the rival group confirmed the clashes and the death toll to Reuters.
- The Colombian Army deployed troops and reinforced security to protect nearby communities, while officials have not detailed how the deaths occurred.
- Both factions broke from the Estado-Maior Central in 2024 after internal disputes, with Mordisco abandoning talks in 2025 and Calarcá maintaining limited dialogue with the government.