Security situation in Colombia deteriorates as family members of Vice President narrowly survive attack

In part of the Amazon, each tree felled is approved by the so-called Central General Staff (EMC), as the FARC dissident group calls itself (Credit: AFP)

The recent attempted assassination of family members of Colombia's vice president highlights the worsening security situation in the southwest of the country, raising concerns about the viability of an already struggling peace process with a major armed group in the region, InSight Crime detailed in a recent analysis.

On June 16, men on motorcycles opened fire on a vehicle carrying Sigifredo Márquez, the father of Vice President Francia Márquez, and her six-year-old nephew near Jamundí, Valle del Cauca. The pair escaped unharmed.