2024 in Colombia explained

See also: 2024 in South America.

Events in the year 2024 in Colombia.

Incumbents

• President: Gustavo Petro
• Vice President: Francia Márquez
• Government: Cabinet of Gustavo Petro

Events

January

• January 4 – The Clan del Golfo detonate explosives at an army base in Turbo, Antioquia Department, killing a soldier and injuring 12 others.^[1]
• January 13 – El Carmen de Atrato landslide: A landslide in El Carmen de Atrato, Chocó, kills 37 people and injures at least 35 others.^[2]
• January 19 – One person dies after an magnitude 5.6 earthquake strikes Valle del Cauca Department.^[3]

February

• February 27 – President Gustavo Petro announces the suspension of weapons purchases from Israeli manufacturers and acknowledges the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip as genocide.^[4]

April

• April 24 – Amazon rubber cycle: The Government of Colombia issues a formal apology to the indigenous communities of the Amazon basin for allowing the enslavement and systematic brutality they endured during the Amazon rubber boom in the 19th and 20th centuries.^[5]
• April 29 – An Mi-17 army helicopter crashes near Santa Rosa del Sur, Bolívar Department, killing all nine officers on board.^[6]

May

• May 2 – Colombia breaks diplomatic relations with Israel over its war in Gaza.^[7]
• May 16 – Elmer Fernandez, the director of the La Modelo prison in Bogota, is shot dead by a motorcycled gunman while on his way home from work.^[8]
• May 20 – Six people are injured in a bomb attack in Jamundi blamed on FARC dissidents.^[9]
• May 28 – The Senate of Colombia approves a resolution banning Spanish-style bullfighting in the country.^[10]

June

• 10 June – Doe v. Chiquita Brands International: After 17 years of litigation, Chiquita Brands International is found liable by a jury in United States Federal Court of financing the far-right paramilitary death squad United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia in the Antioquia and Magdalena Departments.^[11]
• 10 June – One person is killed and 20 others are injured after a cable car plunges into a sidewalk next to a station platform in Medellin.^[12]
• 29 June – The FARC-splinter group Segunda Marquetalia agrees to a "unilateral ceasefire" and the release of its captives following negotiations with the Colombian government held in Venezuela.^[13]

July

• 1 July – Larry Álvarez, a cofounder of the transnational crime group Tren de Aragua based in Venezuela, is arrested by police in Circasia, Quindío.^[14]
• 14 July:
  • Colombia loses 1-0 against Argentina at the 2024 Copa América final held in Miami.^[15]
  • Colombian Football Federation president Ramón Jesurún is arrested in Miami following an altercation related to the Colombian team's defeat to Argentina in the 2024 Copa América final.^[16] The charges against him are dropped on 26 August.^[17]
• 15 July – Clifton Suspension Bridge human remains discovery: Colombian Yostin Andres Mosquera is charged with the murders of two gay men and remanded in custody by Wimbledon Magistrates Court in London, United Kingdom.^[18]
• 16 July – The government ends its ceasefire agreement with dissident FARC factions, citing splits within the group.^[19]
• 22 July – President Petro signs into law a bill banning bullfighting in the country.^[20]

August

• 9–12 August – Sixty-six soldiers are abducted and held captive by villagers in Guaviare Department before being released.^[21]
• 15–19 August – The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle embark a four-day visit to Colombia, hosted by Vice President Francia Márquez, with a focus on promoting child online safety and women empowerment.^{[22] [23]}
• 31 August–22 September – 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup^[24]

September

• 3 September – Truckers establish roadblocks around Bogotá, Medellin and Cali as part of a nationwide strike in protest over fuel increases.^[25]
• 6 September – The Administrative Court of Cundinamarca orders the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development to eradicate hippopotamuses introduced by Pablo Escobar and their descendants by December, citing threats to "ecological balance".^[26]
• 17 September – Two soldiers are killed and 21 others are injured in an attack on an army base near Puerto Jordan, Arauca Department, that is blamed on the ELN,^[27] prompting the government to suspend peace negotiations with the group on 18 September.^[28]
• 23 September – The Egmont Group suspends Colombia's access to its financial crimes database in retaliation for President Gustavo Petro's decision to disclose classified information from the group regarding dealings made by his predecessor Ivan Duque with Pegasus spyware.^[29]

October

• 21 October–1 November – 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Cali.^[30]

November

• 2 November – Nine active and former military personnel are arrested on suspicion of weapons smuggling following a grenade attack on a toll booth in Bogota in 2023.^[31]
• 26 November – President Petro announces the imposition of visa requirements on British nationals travelling to Colombia in response to the United Kingdom revoking visa-free access to Colombian nationals.^[32]

December

• 3 December – Simultaneous raids are carried out by authorities on 11 prisons nationwide as part of efforts to seize contraband.^[33]

Art and entertainment

• List of Colombian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
• List of 2024 box office number-one films in Colombia

Holidays

^{[34] [35]}

• January 1: New Year's Day
• January 8: Three Kings Day
• March 24: Palm Sunday
• March 25: Saint Joseph's Day
• March 28: Holy Thursday
• March 29: Good Friday
• March 31: Easter Sunday
• May 1: Labor Day
• May 13: Ascension Day
• June 3: Feast of Corpus Christi
• June 10: Sacred Heart
• July 1: Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
• July 20: Independence Day
• August 7: Battle of Boyacá
• August 19: Assumption Day
• October 14: Columbus Day
• November 4: All Saints' Day
• November 11: Independence of Cartagena
• December 8: Day of Immaculate Conception
• December 25: Christmas Day

Deaths

• January 2: Juan Carlos Henao Pérez, 64, jurist (Colombian peace agreement) and academic, president of the Constitutional Court (2009–2010) and rector of Universidad Externado (2012–2021).^[36]
• January 11: Efraín Antonio Ríos, 113, supercentenarian.^[37]
• January 19: Mario E. Dorsonville, 63, Colombian-born American Roman Catholic prelate, auxiliary bishop of Washington (2015–2023) and bishop of Houma–Thibodaux (since 2023).^[38]
• January 20: Piedad Córdoba, 68, politician, MP (1992–2010).^[39]
• February 19: Rodrigo Pardo García-Peña, 65, politician, minister of foreign affairs (1994–1996).^[40]
• March 24: José Agustín Valbuena Jáuregui, 96, Roman Catholic bishop.^[41]
• September 2: Rodolfo Hernández Suárez, 79, politician, mayor of Bucaramanga (2016–2019), Senator (2022) and presidential candidate.^[42]
• October 4: Marlon Pérez Arango, 48, professional road bicycle racer, murdered by stabbing^[43]

External links

• Online calendar

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1 soldier killed and 12 injured in attack in Colombia blamed on drug cartel . 2024-01-04 . ABC News . en.
2. Web site: 2024-01-13 . Zeker 18 doden en tientallen gewonden bij aardverschuiving in Colombia . 2024-01-13 . nos.nl . nl.
3. News: Una mujer muerta, caída de techos y agrietamientos dejó el temblor en Ansermanuevo. A dead woman, falling roofs and cracks left the tremor in Ansermanuevo. El Espectador. 2024-01-20. 19 January 2024. es.
4. Web site: Uribe . Maria Alejandra . 2024-02-29 . Colombia suspende toda compra de armas a Israel: Petro por muerte de más de 100 palestinos . 2024-02-29 . W Radio . es.
5. Web site: 2024-04-24 . Gobierno colombiano pide perdón por "genocidio" del caucho . 2024-04-24 . El Espectador . spanish.
6. Web site: 2024-04-29 . A Colombian army helicopter has crashed in a rural area of the country's north, killing 9 soldiers . 2024-04-30 . AP News . en.
7. Web site: 2 May 2024 . Colombia's president says country will break diplomatic relations with Israel over war in Gaza . 2 May 2024 . AP News . en.
8. News: Colombia hunts for assailants after Bogota prison director shot dead . 17 May 2024 . Al Jazeera . 17 May 2024.
9. News: Violence intensifies in southwest Colombia as FARC holdout group attacks police and military . 21 May 2024 . Associated Press . 21 May 2024.
10. Web site: FM . La . 2024-05-28 . Congreso prohíbe corridas de toros en Colombia La FM . 2024-05-29 . www.lafm.com.co . spanish.
11. Web site: June 11, 2024 . COLOMBIAN VICTIMS WIN HISTORIC VERDICT OVER CHIQUITA: JURY FINDS BANANA COMPANY LIABLE FOR FINANCING DEATH SQUADS. .
12. Web site: June 26, 2024 . The collapse of a cable car in Colombia kills 1 person and injures 20 . Associated Press .
13. Web site: June 30, 2024 . Colombian rebel group agrees to 'unilateral ceasefire' and release of captives . France 24.
14. Web site: July 2, 2024 . Colombia captures one of the founders of the Tren de Aragua gang, wanted in Venezuela and Chile. Associated Press .
15. Web site: July 15, 2024 . Argentina win record 16th Copa America in match marred by crowd chaos . .
16. Web site: July 15, 2024 . Colombian football federation president arrested: police . .
17. News: Colombian soccer official Ramón Jesurún has charges from Copa America arrest dropped . Alamis . Thames . . August 27, 2024 . September 3, 2024.
18. News: Grierson . Jamie . 2024-07-15 . Man remanded in custody after human remains found in Bristol . 2024-07-16 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
19. News: Rueda . Manuel . 2024-07-17 . Colombia ends cease-fire with largest faction of FARC rebel holdout group . 2024-07-17 . Associated Press . en-US.
20. News: Rueda . Manuel . 2024-07-23 . Colombia's president signs bill to ban bullfighting in the South American country . 2024-07-23 . Associated Press . en-US.
21. Web site: August 13, 2024 . Colombian villagers release more than 60 soldiers who had been held captive for 3 days . Associated Press .
22. Web site: Prince Harry and Meghan arrive in Colombia after vice president 'moved' by Netflix documentary . 2024-08-16 . Sky News . en.
23. Web site: 2024-08-15 . 'We are no longer debating facts', says Harry in Colombia . 2024-08-16 . BBC News . en-gb.
24. Web site: N Korea win record third U20 Fifa Women's World Cup . BBC . 23 September 2024 . 23 September 2024.
25. Web site: September 4, 2024 . Colombian truckers block highways in main cities in protest over increases in fuel prices . Associated Press .
26. Web site: September 4, 2024 . Colombian court orders Escobar's hippos to be hunted . France 24.
27. Web site: September 18, 2024 . Colombia's president says attack on army base 'practically ends' peace talks with ELN rebels . Associated Press.
28. Web site: September 19, 2024 . Colombia suspends peace talks with ELN rebel group after a deadly attack on the military . Associated Press.
29. Web site: September 24, 2024 . Anti-money laundering group suspends Colombia after President Petro declassifies confidential report . Associated Press.
30. Web site: November 2, 2024 . Agreement signed at UN summit gives Indigenous groups voice . VOA.
31. Web site: November 3, 2024 . Colombian authorities arrest active and retired military personnel over weapons trafficking . Associated Press.
32. Web site: November 27, 2024 . Colombia to require visas for British citizens in response to UK visa restrictions . Associated Press.
33. Web site: December 4, 2024 . Colombian police raid 11 prisons to combat extortion rackets . France 24 .
34. Web site: Colombia Public Holidays 2024. 20 November 2023 . Public Holidays Global.
35. Web site: Calendario económico y feriados bancarios. Economic calendar and bank holidays . Bank of the Republic. November 20, 2023. es.
36. Web site: Lewin . Juan Esteban . 2024-01-02 . Muere Juan Carlos Henao, uno de los juristas del acuerdo de La Habana . 2024-01-15 . El País América Colombia . es-CO.
37. Web site: Villatoro . Fabrizio . 2024-01-12 . Efraín Antonio Ríos García, World's Second-Oldest Living Man, Dies at 113 . 2024-01-15 . LongeviQuest . en-US.
38. Web site: 2024-01-20 . Bishop Mario Dorsonville Passed Away Friday Night, Funeral Arrangements to be Announced . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20240123200812/https://htdiocese.org/news/bishop-mario-dorsonville-passed-away-friday-night-funeral-arrangements-to-be-announced . 2024-01-23 . 2024-01-20 . Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux.
39. Web site: 2024-01-20 . Atención: falleció la senadora Piedad Córdoba . 2024-01-21 . Semana . spanish.
40. https://cambiocolombia.com/pais/murio-rodrigo-pardo-periodista-exdiplomatico-65-anos Murió Rodrigo Pardo, periodista y exdiplomático, a los 65 años
41. https://cerromurillostereo.com/murio-jose-agustin-valbuena-jauregui-quien-fue-obispo-de-valledupar/ Murió José Agustín Valbuena Jáuregui quien fue obispo de Valledupar
42. Web site: 3 September 2024 . Real estate magnate who came close to winning Colombia's presidential election dies from cancer . 3 September 2024 . Associated Press . en.
43. News: Tobón . Santiago Olivares . 2024-10-04 . En una riña asesinaron al histórico ciclista antioqueño Marlon Pérez en El Carmen de Viboral . 2024-10-09 . El Colombiano . es-ES.