On 14 March 2025, in a rural area of Mercaderes municipality (Cauca), unidentified individuals shot and killed a couple who were traveling on their motorcycle with their daughter in the Pan de Azucar sector. The woman was a teacher, a local leader, and a member of the SIMANA teachers' union. The couple had been previously displaced from Sucre municipality (Cauca) after receiving threats from the ELN. The perpetrators stole the couple's motorcycle and fled, leaving the victims' daughter unharmed. Although it is suspected to have been a violent robbery, authorities have not confirmed the motivations behind the attack. The area is also known for the presence of the ELN, the Carlos Patino FARC dissident front, and local gangs. 2 fatalities.

Supply-chain Risk Briefing

1. Summary

On March 14, 2025, unidentified armed groups committed a high-intensity violent incident in the Mercaderes area of Cauca department, Colombia, killing a teacher and local leader along with his spouse. The victim had previously experienced forced displacement once due to threats from the ELN, demonstrating the ongoing security instability in Colombia's Cauca department.

2. Supply-chain impact

• Agricultural sector risk: Cauca department is a major coffee, sugarcane, and cocoa production region in Colombia, and continued violence could negatively impact agricultural productivity and transportation safety
• Regional transportation network risk: This incident involving motorcycle theft reveals security vulnerabilities in rural transportation routes within Cauca department, posing potential threats to agricultural collection and distribution networks
• Social infrastructure instability: Targeted attacks on educators and union activists indicate instability in regional social infrastructure, with expected negative spillover effects on regional economic activities and logistics operations in the long term
• Expanding security vacuum: Continued activities of armed groups like the ELN and targeting of civilians could lead to deterioration of the overall business environment in Cauca department

3. Watch points

• Expansion of additional violence and civilian casualties within Cauca department - Need to assess cumulative impact on agricultural production and logistics networks
• Colombian government's security reinforcement measures for Cauca department - Required to track the effect of rural area security improvements on agricultural supply chain stability