Rebel Leaders Arrested Over Senator’s 2025 Killing

The Colombian attorney general issued new arrest warrants today for seven key figures of the Segunda Marquetalia rebel faction, linking them to the 2025 murder of Senator Miguel Uribe. The suspects include seasoned guerrilla commanders Ivan Luciano Marin Arango (known as “Ivan Marquez”) and Gener Garcia Molina (“Jhon 40”). Authorities say the killings were part of a larger plot to destabilize the nation’s democracy. Investigators believe that “Ivan Marquez” and other suspects may be hiding in Venezuela. The murder took place when Uribe, a prominent right‑wing politician from a well‑known family, was speaking at a campaign rally in Bogota. It marked the worst political violence in nearly twenty years, recalling the turbulent 1980s and 1990s when drug cartels killed several presidential candidates. Attorney General Luz Adriana Camargo described the attack as a “structured criminal operation” run by an urban gang. She identified Kendry Tellez as the main organizer, who allegedly arranged a payment of 1 billion pesos (about $250, 000) for the hit during meetings near the Venezuelan border. No further details on the political motives were provided.This latest move completes a long investigation that has already seen nine individuals prosecuted. Among those convicted is Simeon Perez, who received a 22‑year sentence for acting as a liaison between the rebel leaders and the urban killers. Two others were given 21‑year terms for surveillance and logistics, while a minor shooter was sentenced under juvenile law. The Segunda Marquetalia group split from the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) after signing a 2016 peace deal, only to return to armed conflict three years later over unmet government promises. They have re‑entered peace talks in 2024 as part of President Gustavo Petro’s initiative to end Colombia’s sixty‑year internal conflict. These developments highlight the ongoing challenges of ensuring political stability in a country still healing from decades of violence. The arrest warrants signal a decisive effort to hold those responsible for targeted political killings accountable.