SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Starting July 1, 2026, SAR no longer publishes reports for the incidents that it records. SAR continues to monitor and record incidents that will be used in the annual Free to Think report. This page provides a record of incidents reported up to that date. Learn more about the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.

Date of Incident: October 30, 2025

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances

Institution(s):Universidad del Atlántico

Region & Country:Americas | Colombia

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On October 30, 2025, Colombian police clashed with students from the Universidad del Atlántico during a demonstration against the appointment of the university’s new rector.

Rector elections for the 2025-2029 term took place throughout October 2025. The five-candidate race was contentious and sparked multiple protests within the university community, particularly regarding conflicts of interests, corruption allegations, and a lack of transparency in the electoral process. After lawyer and former city councilman Leyton Barrios was eventually announced as rector, students alleged irregularities in the process and called for government intervention and investigation.

During the October 30 protest, students blocked a road near the university. Local police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators, injuring over fifteen students.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of force during a student protest. While state authorities have the responsibility to maintain order and prevent disruption, they must refrain from the disproportionate use of force and endangerment of civilians and must respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Students and members of the public must refrain from violence, especially on campus, and also respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Such actions, beyond harming the immediate victims, have a chilling effect on academic freedom.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPI0Yr2XZ00
https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2025/10/30/video-caos-total-en-la-universidad-del-atlantico-por-eleccion-de-rector-los-estudiantes-protagonizaron-desmanes-y-bloqueos/
https://www.pulzo.com/nacion/crisis-en-la-universidad-del-atlantico-disputa-politica-por-el-rector-y-autonomia-universitaria-en-riesgo-PP4850144A
https://www.wradio.com.co/2025/11/10/sigue-la-disputa-por-la-rectoria-de-la-universidad-del-atlantico/