Authorities in Antioquia, Colombia, intervened Monday, March 23, 2026, to prevent a renewed blockade of a key coastal route, leading to clashes with protesting miners and the burning of vehicles. The road had been cleared for travel after being closed for a week, but concerns over further disruptions prompted police action.
The intervention by the Antioquia Police’s Dialogue and Order Maintenance Unit occurred around 5:30 p.m. As demonstrators began preparations to restrict traffic for two hours. The attempt to prevent the blockade sparked disturbances that ultimately halted vehicle passage.
During the unrest, protesters reportedly set fire to two cars belonging to individuals traveling through the area where confrontations between miners and law enforcement were taking place. Local officials have reported intimidation of ambulances and the burning of vehicles as a result of the mining protest.
The escalating tensions highlight the ongoing challenges in balancing economic interests with the rights of protesters in the region.
Representatives from the Mining Table, the group leading the protests, claim the police intervention violated agreements intended to ensure traffic flow during the “return operation”—a period of increased travel as people return from holiday. “In the framework of the negotiation table, clear agreements were established between the National Government and the Mining Table, with the participation of multiple national and territorial entities and oversight bodies,” the group stated in a release. “These commitments have been breached by the National Government.”
Previous reports indicated a boat was burned during earlier stages of the protest, and negotiations had stalled.
The miners announced that all agreements with the Deputy Minister of Defense, representing the National Government, were now void, and vowed to continue protesting until fresh agreements are reached. “We declare that the agreements with the Deputy Ministry of Defense are null and void due to their non-compliance. We call on the entire mining community to remain organized and take an active role in the situation,” they said.
The current situation stems from negotiations that began last Thursday, with disagreements centering on a halt to police operations against the miners and protocols for formalizing their operations. A ninth day of protests by the miners is likely, further impacting the economy of Bajo Cauca, Antioquia, and transportation along the corridor.
