Cali.- A robust contingent of the Colombian Army and Police was deployed in Commune 18 of the city of Cali, an area considered strategic for the security of the inauguration ceremony of president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella, which will take place this August 7th.
Dozens of members of the National Police’s Special Operations Group (GOES) and an elite Army group, in coordination with the Secretariat of Security and Justice of the Mayor’s Office of Cali, took over this neighborhood on Tuesday night, located just five minutes from the USC Arena of the Santiago de Cali University, where the inauguration will be held with the presence of international dignitaries.
During the intervention, the uniformed officers carried out patrols in different parts of the hillside, where criminal gangs operate.
Lieutenant Jennifer Rojas Rodríguez, from the Army’s Anti-Extortion and Anti-Kidnapping Group (Gaula), assured EFE that the actions are part of the comprehensive plan to secure the city, capital of the Valle del Cauca department, during the presidential election day.
“These are prevention and security actions to ensure that the presidential inauguration day on Friday, August 7, proceeds without setbacks, as we have all our capabilities deployed throughout the city,” he indicated.
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The security operation
The operation has nearly 11,000 uniformed personnel from the Police, the Army, and the Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC), tasked with guarding the city, the avenues, the airspace, the hills, and the venue where the presidential inauguration will take place.
“We are in this hillside area because we are trained to reach every corner of the city thanks to the special capabilities that allow us to attack these criminal groups,” Sub-inspector Daniel Ariza Giraldo, of the National Police Special Operations Group, told EFE.
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The ceremony will be attended by King Felipe VI of Spain, and the presidents of Argentina, Javier Milei; Ecuador, Daniel Noboa; Paraguay, Santiago Peña; Costa Rica, Laura Fernández; Panama, José Raúl Mulino; Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader; Chile, José Antonio Kast, and Honduras, Nasry Asfura.
El Salvador and Guatemala will be represented by their vice presidents, Félix Ulloa and Karin Herrera, respectively. Also attending will be the Prime Minister of Curaçao, Gilmar Pisas, representing the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the foreign ministers of Brazil, Mauro Vieira, and Israel, Gideon Sa’ar, and a large delegation from the United States.
An investiture that moves the economy
The mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder, highlighted that the inauguration represents an opportunity to project the city internationally and boost different economic sectors.
“This will be an unprecedented event and a historic opportunity for our city, which will bring development, employment, and a significant boost to the local economy,” Eder assured.
According to the president, the arrival of nearly 6,000 national and international visitors is expected, including heads of state, diplomatic delegations, authorities, business leaders, media, and special guests.
“We expect nearly 10 billion pesos (about 3.1 million dollars) in economic impact for Cali and the Valle del Cauca,” the mayor specified, adding that 85% hotel occupancy has already been reached and they expect to reach 6 billion pesos (1.8 million dollars) in revenue for the tourism sector.
Security measures for August 7th
Authorities estimate that the presidential agenda will consolidate Cali as a stage for major international gatherings by hosting the most important institutional event in the city’s history.
As part of the measures, Eder also announced that on August 7, cars and motorcycles will not circulate between 07:00 and 20:00 local time (12:00-01:00 GMT) throughout the city and, as compensation, public bus transport will be free.
