Colombia tightened security on Thursday (August 6) in the southwestern city of Cali ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella, a rare ceremony outside Bogota.

De la Espriella has said some 6,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony in one of Colombia's most violent cities.

Cali reported a homicide rate of 46.6 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2025, according to the Colombian government, while the national rate was 25.8, Colombian media reported.

"We will deploy 11,100 members of the Public Force in Cali and nearby areas. The Colombian Army will safeguard access routes; the Colombian Police, with 1,500 additional officers, will reinforce security at Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport, main road corridors, the hotel zone and official venues; the Colombian Navy will protect the Cali-Buenaventura highway and the Pacific coast; and the Colombian Air Force will conduct aerial surveillance with manned and unmanned aircraft and anti-drone systems," Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder said in a post on X.

Local authorities have also ordered a ban on alcohol sales and consumption on August 7 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time (1100 GMT to 0100 GMT on August 8).

The right-wing leader De la Espriella has said the event marks the first step toward decentralizing politics and bringing the state closer to the regions.

The lawyer and businessman, who has never held elected office, defeated his rival by more than 250,000 votes, with 49.66% of the vote.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

POLICE CHECKPOINT IN ROAD / SOUNDBITES FROM DEFENCE MINISTER

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: CALI, COLOMBIA (AUGUST 6, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF POLICE CHECKPOINT ON MAIN ACCESS ROAD

2. (MUTE) VARIOUS OF DRONE FOOTAGE OF CHECKPOINT

CALI, COLOMBIA (AUGUST 4, 2026) (MINISTRY OF DEFENCE – Access all)

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, PEDRO SANCHEZ, SAYING:

"All security measures have been deployed to ensure that this Friday, August 7, the presidential inauguration and the transition to the new government take place with complete normality and security. More than 11,000 men and women have been deployed here, with drones, anti-drone systems, armored vehicles, and all the necessary capabilities so that this democratic event can take place in complete calm."

CALI, COLOMBIA (AUGUST 6, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

3. VARIOUS OF POLICE CHECKPOINT ON ROAD

CALI, COLOMBIA (AUGUST 4, 2026) (MINISTRY OF DEFENCE – Access all)

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, PEDRO SANCHEZ, SAYING:

"The capabilities are deployed both at Bonilla Aragon Airport, at the Military Aviation School, at the site where the presidential inauguration will take place, as well as at the Pichincha Battalion and along all the corridors. There are different checkpoints, and people themselves have expressed appreciation for this enormous security deployment."

CALI, COLOMBIA (AUGUST 6, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

5. VARIOUS OF POLICE CHECKPOINT ON ROAD

6. (MUTE) DRONE FOOTAGE OF CHECKPOINT