Colombian Military Ammunition Missing, Raising Concerns of Illegal Arms Trade

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has reported the disappearance of hundreds of thousands of pieces of ammunition from two military bases, sparking fears that they may have fallen into the hands of rebel groups or been sold illegally to international criminal organizations.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro's administration has been rocked by the revelation of a large-scale disappearance of ammunition from two military bases, raising serious concerns about the security of the country's armed forces and the potential for illegal arms trafficking.

According to Petro, an inspection conducted by the army this month discovered the theft of hundreds of thousands of bullets, thousands of grenades, and 37 anti-tank missiles from a military base in central Colombia and another near the Caribbean coast.

The missing ammunition has sparked fears that it may have ended up in the hands of Colombian rebel groups or been sold illegally to criminal groups overseas, including Haitian gangs. President Petro suggested that the weapons may have been stolen by "networks made up of people within the armed forces who are involved in the illegal arms trade."

This incident comes as Colombia faces renewed fighting in the southwest of the country against the FARC-EMC, a rebel group that broke off from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) after it signed a peace deal with the government in 2016. The government has resumed military operations against the group, which has been accused of continued extortion and kidnapping of civilians.

President Petro has initiated peace talks with some of the remaining rebel groups in the country, but critics have argued that these cease-fires have allowed the rebels to strengthen their positions and gain more influence over communities. They have also expressed concerns that the missing ammunition could further empower these groups.

The investigation into the missing ammunition is ongoing, with the government vowing to continue inspections of military bases to "separate the armed forces from any type of criminal organization." The incident highlights the challenges facing the Colombian government in maintaining security and combating the threat of illegal arms trafficking, which can fuel violence and instability.