On October 8, 2025, unidentified individuals entered classrooms at the Universidad del Valle, ordering professors and students to evacuate and disrupting university functions.

The incident follows a wave of disturbances around campus and the city of Cali in the preceding months, leading to frustration within the university community regarding the lack of a concrete response from state authorities (see related report).

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the intimidation of university staff members and forced entry into a higher education institution by armed groups. State authorities should take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of scholars, students, and staff, including by investigating and holding perpetrators of such acts responsible, in line with international human rights standards. In addition to the harm to the immediate victims, campus raids and intimidation of higher education members undermine academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://www.elespectador.com/colombia/cali/encapuchados-interrumpieron-clases-en-la-universidad-del-valle-y-causaron-bloqueos/
https://www.bluradio.com/regiones/pacifico/encapuchados-interrumpieron-clases-en-la-universidad-del-valle-en-cali-rg10
https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2025/10/08/video-valiente-profesor-se-enfrento-a-un-encapuchado-que-entro-a-las-aulas-de-la-universidad-del-valle-para-obligarlos-a-evacuar/