Nationwide demonstrations over a now-annulled tax proposal are likely to continue for a ninth consecutive day on 6 May 2021. Authorities have reached an agreement with truck drivers to lift roadblocks in the capital Bogotá and the surrounding department of Cundinamarca that have disrupted travel between Bogotá and surrounding municipalities. Some cities continue to experience shortages of basic goods, particularly Cali; however, authorities have established 60 humanitarian corridors in 17 departments to allow the passage of essential goods.
On 5 May clashes continued between demonstrators and police officers in Bogotá, with officers deploying tear gas to disperse crowds. According to the mayor of Bogotá, 23 civilians and six police officers were injured during the clashes, while three police stations and three public metro stations were vandalized. Additionally, security personnel conducted an operation in Bogotá’s Ciudad Bolívar area, during which they arrested eight people for allegedly looting commercial establishments. Demonstrators also looted several businesses in the cities of Barranquilla and Santa Marta. According to the Ombudsman’s Office of Colombia, a total of 24 people have been killed amid the unrest, including 15 in Cali.