Colombia was shaken on Saturday by the shooting of Senator Miguel Uribe, a prominent conservative opposition figure and 2026 presidential hopeful, who was seriously injured during a public campaign event in Bogotá.
The 39-year-old senator, affiliated with the Democratic Centre party founded by former President Álvaro Uribe (to whom he is not related), was shot in the back while addressing supporters in a park in the Fontibón neighborhood, according to his party’s statement.
Uribe was immediately taken to a local hospital, where he remains in serious condition, though the exact medical status has not been publicly disclosed. Colombia’s Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed that a suspect has been arrested, and authorities are actively investigating the possibility of additional accomplices.
The incident prompted swift condemnation across the political spectrum:
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The Presidency of Colombia denounced the shooting as a “violent attack on democracy” and called for a full investigation.
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President Gustavo Petro, a political rival, expressed sympathy on X (formerly Twitter), referencing Uribe’s tragic family history: “I don’t know how to ease your pain. It is the pain of a mother lost, and of a homeland.”
Uribe’s personal story is deeply entwined with Colombia’s troubled past. His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was kidnapped in 1990 by operatives of the Medellín cartel under Pablo Escobar’s command and was killed during a botched rescue operation — a trauma that has shaped Uribe’s political outlook.
This attack on a sitting senator highlights the fragile security environment in Colombia, where political violence, narco-terrorism, and decades of civil conflict still leave their mark. Uribe, seen as a key voice in the conservative camp and a top challenger in the upcoming presidential race, has been outspoken in his criticism of the current leftist government and its policies toward armed groups.
As the investigation unfolds, the focus is now on:
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Motives behind the attack — whether political, criminal, or otherwise.
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Security lapses during the campaign event.
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The broader implications for Colombia’s 2026 presidential race, which could be reshaped depending on Uribe’s recovery.
The assault has intensified national conversations about political violence, security guarantees for public officials, and the resilience of Colombian democracy in the face of such attacks.
