A car bomb attack, allegedly carried out by two splinter groups from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), has shaken Colombia's southwest region just a day after Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as president. The incident occurred at a toll plaza on the Pan-American Highway in the coastal department of Cauca, leaving two security guards with minor injuries. De la Espriella's administration has vowed a firm response to this act of violence, emphasizing their commitment to restore order and ensure the nation's infrastructure remains intact. The newly inaugurated president, known for his hardline stance against armed groups, campaigned on promises to combat criminal activity that has plagued Colombia for over six decades. De la Espriella, a political novice, narrowly defeated Senator Ivan Cepeda in June's run-off election and has expressed intentions to shift away from the dialogue-centric approach of his predecessor, former President Gustavo Petro. The Trump administration has offered support to de la Espriella's tougher stance on crime, pledging $1bn in security aid as part of a broader strategy to increase US military involvement across Latin America and combat narcotics trafficking. However, rights groups have raised concerns about potential human rights abuses by government forces under the new administration's more militarized approach.