Colombia's prosecutor opens investigation into former President Alvaro Uribe

Colombia's Office of the Attorney General announced on Thursday that it is investigating former President Alvaro Uribe for his alleged involvement in the formation and actions of paramilitary groups. The allegations date back to his time as governor of the Antioquia department between 1995 and 1997. Authorities accuse Uribe of orchestrating and supporting armed structures that utilized the Guacharacas estate, then owned by the Uribe Velez family, as a base. He faces specific charges regarding the 1996 La Granja massacre and the 1997 El Aro massacre. Furthermore, Uribe is linked to the 1998 murder of human rights defender Jesus Maria Valle Jaramillo, who had previously criticized the governor’s response to these massacres. The formal charges include conspiracy and the homicide of protected persons. Uribe has dismissed the investigation as a political ordeal, noting the timing coincides with upcoming elections. The prosecution states the case remains under active judicial review.