Journalist Attacks Surge 175% vs. 2022 Election Cycle as Press Faces Threats Ahead of Vote

El Tiempo reported that 44 journalists and media outlets were attacked between January 1 and May 15, 2026 — a 175% increase compared to the equivalent pre-election period in the 2022 electoral cycle. Attacks included physical threats, digital harassment targeting journalists' devices and accounts, and murders. Reporter Mateo Pérez Rueda was killed in May 2026 after being detained by an armed group while covering conflict zones. Armed groups systematically targeted journalists covering peace process breakdowns, narco-trafficking routes, and conflict in Norte de Santander, Antioquia, and Cauca. The Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP) documented the attacks and called on the Colombian state to provide protective mechanisms for journalists covering the election. The pattern reflected broader impunity for political violence with key election infrastructure — voters, candidates, and now press — all under threat.