On Sunday 28 April, rural community leader Marco Antonio Adrada Viana was murdered in Nariño in southern Colombia. He was a member of the Community Council in the El Sauce zone, where he had occupied different roles for 35 years.
Marco was attacked while returning home with his family from a local market. His wife and young stepson, who were accompanying him, were unhurt.
Nariño is one of the most unstable zones in Colombia, with high presence of armed groups exacerbated by the historically low state presence. Due to its proximity to the Ecuador border and Pacific coast, the region serves as a corridor for contraband.
More than 50 social activists and human right defenders have been killed in the region since the start of 2016. Altogether, more than 550 have been murdered in Colombia during that time.