Colombian Fisherman’s Family Files Human Rights Complaint Over Deadly US Boat Strike




The family of Colombian fisherman Alejandro Carranza, killed in a U.S. military boat strike on Sept. 15, has filed a complaint with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights accusing the U.S. government of illegally killing him. The petition claims Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered attacks without knowing who was on the boats. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has also accused the U.S. of murder, insisting Carranza was a harmless fisherman showing distress signals. The incident is part of a wider U.S. strike campaign against alleged drug boats under President Donald Trump, which has killed more than 80 people and drawn bipartisan scrutiny in Congress over legality and possible war crimes — especially amid reports that survivors of an earlier strike were killed in a second attack.




#USNews #Colombia #AlejandroCarranza #BoatStrike #HumanRights #IACHR #PeteHegseth #DonaldTrump #DrugWar #Caribbean #GustavoPetro #WarCrimes #MilitaryStrikes #ABCNews #InternationalLaw

Trump Calls Colombian President Petro ‘Illegal Drug Dealer’, Halts U.S. Aid To South American Country.

Trump accused President Petro of actively encouraging drug production across Colombia, describing the practice as a major threat to the United States.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump, in a social media post on Sunday, referred to Colombian President Gustavo Petro as “an illegal drug dealer” who is “low rated and very unpopular.”

Trump accused President Petro of actively encouraging drug production across Colombia, describing the practice as a major threat to the United States.

Trump claimed that drug cultivation in both large and small fields has become Colombia’s “biggest business by far” and accused Petro of failing to stop it despite significant U.S. financial support.

The president announced that, effective immediately, the United States would no longer make any payments or provide subsidies to Colombia.

“President Gustavo Petro, of Columbia, is an illegal drug leader strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs, in big and small fields, all over Columbia,” Trump wrote.

“It has become the biggest business in Columbia, by far, and Petro does nothing to stop it, despite large scale payments and subsidies from the USA that are nothing more than a long term rip off of America. AS OF TODAY, THESE PAYMENTS, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PAYMENT, OR SUBSIDIES, WILL NO LONGER BE MADE TO COLUMBIA.”

Trump warned that if the Colombian government did not take immediate action to shut down the drug fields, the United States would intervene directly.

“The purpose of this drug production is the sale of massive amounts of product into the United States, causing death, destruction, and havoc,” he said.

“Petro, a low rated and very unpopular leader, with a fresh mouth toward America, better close up these killing fields immediately, or the United States will close them up for him, and it won't be done nicely.”

Earlier on Sunday, President Petro accused the U.S. government of carrying out an assassination and demanded answers following the latest American strike in Caribbean waters.

The U.S., however, confirmed on Saturday that it was repatriating two survivors of the attack to Colombia and Ecuador.

This marked the sixth U.S. strike in the region since early September, which has reportedly killed at least 29 people. Washington maintains that the strikes are targeting alleged drug traffickers.

US Reportedly Revokes Visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro Over Pro-Palestinian Protest Remarks

The United States has revoked the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro following remarks he made during a pro-Palestinian protest in New York on Friday.

In a post on X, the US State Department said Petro’s “reckless and incendiary actions” prompted the decision. Addressing demonstrators outside the UN headquarters in Manhattan, Petro called for the creation of a global armed force to liberate Palestinians, saying it “must be stronger than the United States.”

He went further by urging American soldiers to defy President Donald Trump’s orders: “Do not point your guns at people. Disobey Trump’s orders. Obey the orders of humanity,” he declared in Spanish.

It was unclear if Petro remained in New York afterward, as his office and Colombia’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Trump administration has tightened its stance on pro-Palestinian voices even as countries such as France, Britain, Australia, and Canada have formally recognized a Palestinian state, moves that have strained relations with Israel and Washington.

Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president and a strong critic of Israel’s war in Gaza, had earlier accused Trump of being “complicit in genocide” during his UN General Assembly address. He also called for criminal proceedings against the US over missile strikes on boats suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean.

Canada Rejects Over 1,596 Nigerian Asylum Claims in 2025.

Canada has denied 1,596 asylum applications from Nigerians between January and August 2025, fresh data from the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) show. 

Out of 3,548 claims filed so far, 2,292 were accepted—an approval rate of about 65 per cent, higher than in previous years.

Nigeria remains one of the top sources of asylum seekers in Canada, alongside Mexico, India, Haiti and Colombia. Analysts link the surge to insecurity caused by Boko Haram and economic hardship. Most claimants are hosted in Ontario and Alberta.

Under Canadian law, the IRB grants protection if applicants meet the UN definition of refugees or face risks such as tort¥re or cruel treatment in their home countries. 

Social groups considered include women, LGBTQ+ individuals and people living with HIV/AIDS. Claims are usually filed at ports of entry or through immigration officers before referral to the Refugee Protection Division.

Despite the recent rise in approvals, Nigerian claims have historically faced high rejection rates. Between 2013 and 2024, the IRB denied 13,171 applications and accepted 10,580. Rejections peaked in 2019 with 3,951 cases. In 2024 alone, 811 were denied, while 2,230 were approved.

Nigeria ranked eighth among the top 10 countries with the most successful claims last year, following Turkiye, Mexico, Colombia, Iran, Pakistan, Haiti, and Afghanistan.

Speaking on the trend, Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, Executive Director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, said many Nigerians misunderstand refugee laws, leading to rejections. 

“Documentation is crucial. Coming irregularly gets you rejected. But migration must be safe, orderly and regular, and those truly in need of protection should be protected,” she said.

Drogba, Akide Join FIFA’s Anti-Racism Players’ Voice Panel

FIFA has unveiled a 16-member “Players’ Voice Panel” aimed at combating racism in football, with African legends Didier Drogba and Mercy Akide among those named.

Led by former Ballon d’Or winner and ex-Liberian President George Weah, the panel includes current and former football stars from 14 countries, who will advise on anti-racism strategies, support education programmes, and drive cultural reforms in global football.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the panel’s role in delivering real action rather than symbolic gestures, saying:

“Racism and discrimination are not simply wrong — they are crimes. All incidents must be fully punished.”

The initiative follows high-profile incidents of racist abuse in football, including the recent case involving Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo at Liverpool.

The Players’ Voice Panel includes:

George Weah (Liberia)

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)

Mercy Akide (Nigeria)

Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)

Formiga (Brazil)

Ivan Cordoba (Colombia)

Jessica Houara (France)

Sun Jihai (China PR)

Blaise Matuidi (France)

Lotta Schelin (Sweden)

Aya Miyama (Japan)

Juan Pablo Sorin (Argentina)

Mikael Silvestre (France)

Briana Scurry (USA)

Maia Jackman (New Zealand)

Khalilou Fadiga (Senegal)

FIFA has also toughened its disciplinary code, raising fines for racist abuse to a maximum of 5 million Swiss francs, and adopted a three-step anti-discrimination protocol during matches.

#SayNoToRacism #FootballUnites #FIFAPlayersVoice

Today, I welcomed Vice President Francia Márquez of Colombia to the Aso Villa. Her words about returning to “the land of our ancestors” remind us that no ocean can separate a shared heritage.

For centuries, history may have created divisions between Africa and Latin America, but we are committed to fostering new collaboration and building connections across sectors. Our shared history can lead us to a brighter future of mutual prosperity.

VP Kashim Shettima and his team have done an excellent job laying the groundwork for this cooperation. Our business opportunities with Colombia have already been enhanced, and I support every aspect of the agreements reached.

Particularly with Colombia, Nigeria's recent agreement with Brazil can easily be replicated in aviation, and our diplomatic relations can be enhanced. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will accelerate this.

Nigeria brings the energy of a young, skilled population; Colombia brings opportunity and heritage. We must keep collaborating to drive inclusive growth, social justice, and stronger South–South cooperation.

As Africa’s largest democracy, Nigeria will continue to lead in forging these new partnerships with Latin America and the Caribbean.

No ocean is wide enough to divide us any longer.

~ President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Nigeria and Colombia are working towards establishing direct flight connections as part of efforts to strengthen diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries

Colombian Vice President Visits Nigeria, To Meet Shettima, Business Leaders
A key highlight of the visit is the signing of memoranda of understanding in strategic areas of the economy, including women's empowerment, trade, aviation, manufacturing, agriculture, and culture, among others.