Colombian officials have identified members of the Marxist FARC terrorist group as key players in the assassination attempt against conservative senator Miguel Uribe. Reports suggest that José Aldinever Sierra Sabogal, who operates under the alias “Zarco Aldinever,” orchestrated the attack while situated in Venezuela. Recently, the government officially revoked his designation as a “peace negotiator.”
The news outlet El Tiempo indicates that Sierra Sabogal has been involved in various terrorist activities since he was a teenager, around 15 years old. He has ties to numerous assaults on local law enforcement, attempts to lure political figures, and attacks on public infrastructure. Over time, he earned the trust of Luciano Marine Alango, known as “Ivan Marquez,” the leader of FARC.
During his extensive career with FARC, Sierra Sabogal became a prominent commander within the Eastern Block, focusing on illicit funding through drug trafficking and other illegal means. Accounts reveal that he once represented this block in FARC’s Central Command. The government led by François Petro recently granted peace negotiator status to him and several others during negotiations that ultimately failed.
FARC began its journey in 1966, promoting ideas of demobilization in peace talks labeled as progress in 2016. Their leadership received notable perks, including legal immunity and parliamentary positions, even as FARC remains an active terrorist group in Colombia today. There’s an ongoing narrative in Colombia that portrays FARC’s aggressive factions as opposition, claiming the true leadership exists in Bogotá.
Sierra Sabogal reportedly participated in FARC’s “Reincorporation” process. In 2017, he took a role in FARC’s political assembly and later coordinated training and reintegration efforts.
The Colombian newspaper Ertinpo reported that on July 10, authorities named Sierra Sabogal as a presumed mastermind behind the attack on Uribe, who had been shot at a rally in Bogotá by a young assailant and is currently fighting for his life. Despite recent improvements in his condition, his neurological outlook remains cautious.
On July 9, it was confirmed that President Petro had officially revoked Sierra Sabogal’s title as a peace negotiator, as the group he was part of, the Second Marquetalia Bloc, split from FARC.
According to additional reports, Sierra Sabogal is allegedly trying to execute terrorist operations from Venezuela, aiming to destabilize Colombia’s political environment ahead of the scheduled general elections in 2026. The relationships between Venezuela and FARC have historically been deep-rooted, dating back to the era of the late Hugo Chavez.
The ongoing investigation has not firmly established the motive behind the assassination attempt on Senator Uribe. However, sources are exploring two main theories: one focuses on his conservative views and stance against illegal armed groups, while the other considers his potential candidacy for presidency as a reason for being targeted.
As stated by El Tiempo, the attack on Uribe highlights a distressing trend where politics and terrorism intersect, suggesting that some factions within FARC remain potent and capable of sophisticated urban operations.
It’s worth noting that Diana Turbay, Senator Uribe’s mother, was the daughter of a Colombian president and journalist who was killed during a failed rescue by Pablo Escobar’s orders in 1991.
