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Colombia: Three soldiers killed by landmines

Three soldiers were killed after a landmine exploded in a southwestern area Colombia, which were placed by dissidents of the former FARC guerrilla organization.

“Three soldiers were killed, another was wounded and several were shocked” from the blasts, according to an army statement, which clarified that the incident was recorded on Friday.

The bomber struck shortly after noon in front of a police checkpoint in the town of Dagua, in the county of Valle del Cauca.

According to the army, The mines were planted by members of an armed group led by Jaime Martinez, which rejects the peace agreement signed in 2016..

Colombia is currently experiencing the worst escalation of violence since the signing of the historic 2016 peace agreement between the then government and the former rebels, under which they disarmed. The agreement was supposed to turn the page on some six decades of civil war.

Various armed groups, including FARC insurgents, National Liberation Army (ELN) insurgents, and far-right paramilitaries, are active in Vaye del Cauca, a strategic destination for drug trafficking to the United States and Europe.

Armed groups fighting for control of smuggling often use landmines to protect coca crops or as a weapon..

Over 12,000 people have been killed by anti-personnel mines in Colombia, which has long been considered the country to suffer the second heaviest blow in the world from these explosive devices, after Afghanistan. 19% of them were killed.

Colombia ranks first in the world in terms of cocaine production, according to the UN.

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