Colombian Journalist Mateo Perez Murdered
Analysis based on 7 articles · First reported May 09, 2026 · Last updated May 09, 2026
The murder of Mateo Perez highlights the ongoing instability and violence in Colombia, particularly in regions controlled by armed groups involved in illicit economies. This event could deter foreign investment in sectors like mining due to security concerns and potentially impact the upcoming presidential elections.
Mateo Perez, a 25-year-old Colombian journalist, was found dead in a restive northwestern region of Colombia, Antioquia department, where Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia dissidents, Clan del Golfo drug traffickers, and illegal gold miners operate. President Gustavo Petro blamed guerrilla leader Jhon Edison Chala Torrejano for the killing, stating that Torrejano is seeking to control the illicit gold mining trade. Perez had been investigating illicit economies linked to armed groups for his online news outlet, El Confidente de Yarumal. The Freedom of the Press Foundation and the Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the killing and called for a thorough investigation and greater protection for journalists in Colombia, where 170 journalists have been killed since 1977. This incident occurs amidst a surge in guerrilla attacks in Colombia leading up to the May 31 presidential election, and after Gustavo Petro halted peace negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia dissident group.
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