Colombia: Rising violence in Cúcuta puts journalists at risk
Rising violence in Cúcuta and the wider Norte de Santander region of Colombia is putting journalists’ safety at risk and threatening the public’s access to information. Together with Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa (FLIP), a Colombian press freedom organisation with whom we work on the ground, Free Press Unlimited (FPU) is calling on the authorities to take urgent action to protect journalists and ensure they can report without fear of reprisals.
The risks journalists face
The killing of Miguel Castellanos, former Secretary of Government of Cúcuta and mayoral pre-candidate, on 26 October, followed by an explosive attack the next day in the El Escobal area, near the Francisco de Paula Santander International Bridge, shows how serious the situation has become. These events have a direct effect on the population’s access to information and make it more dangerous for journalists to cover issues of public interest.
Armed groups and criminal structures, disputes over territorial control and illegal economies make it especially dangerous for journalists to do their job. Reporting on corruption, linking local power and crime, drug trafficking and insecurity can expose journalists to threats and attacks, preventing the public from learning about issues that affect their lives.
In 2026, FLIP has documented 52 attacks against the press in Norte de Santander, including 30 threats. The killing of journalist Cristian Herrera on 6 June follows that of Jaime Vásquez in April 2024. Herrera had faced several attacks and protection eventually failed to protect his life. These cases highlight the need to establish who is responsible for attacks against journalists and ensure that protection measures work.
Local media outlets also have limited resources for security measures, legal support and psychosocial assistance. Protecting journalists therefore requires not only responding to individual threats, but also addressing the factors that allow attacks to continue.
Authorities must protect journalists
Authorities in Cúcuta and Norte de Santander must act urgently to protect journalists. Announcements and security meetings must lead to concrete action. Together, FLIP and FPU call on Colombian authorities to put an urgent plan in place to prevent attacks against journalists and protect those at risk. This must include effective responses to threats, timely protection measures and thorough investigations into killings, threats and other attacks against the press. Authorities must also ensure that journalists can cover violent events safely and independently, without being stigmatised or facing arbitrary restrictions. The international community also has a role to play in supporting local media, strengthening their safety and sustainability, and monitoring the authorities’ response.
Why this matters
Violence against journalists affects everyone. When a journalist is threatened, killed or forced to stop reporting on a particular issue, the public loses access to information about political decisions, violence and the actions of those in power. Journalism is essential to understanding what is happening in Cúcuta and holding those in power accountable. Fear must not determine what gets reported or what the public gets to know. Journalists in Cúcuta and Norte de Santander must be able to do their work without risking their lives. People must have access to diverse, independent reporting about what is happening in their region.
Read the full joint statement in English and Spanish below.
