Assassination attempt made on indigenous Wayuu community leader

An indigenous community leader survived an assassination attempt on Sunday 14 January, which occurred in Colombia’s northernmost department, La Guajira.

Two men opened fire on Ever de Jesús Epieyu Epinayu after trying to force their way into his home, where Ever was recuperating from a recent illness. It was the second attempt on his life.

Ever has been a prominent critic of illegal trafficking of indigenous Wayuu children in northern Colombia. He is a member of the Wayuu Nation social movement which campaigns for indigenous rights in one of Colombia’s most deprived regions.

The Wayuu people are subject to severe economic and political discrimination, with resource extraction having had a devastating impact on their communities. In the last decade, an estimated 5,000 Wayuu children have died due to malnutrition, thirst and preventable diseases.