World News
French-Colombian Foreign Legion soldier kidnapped by rebel faction in Colombia
Colombian military authorities report that a corporal on leave was abducted in Nariño by FARC dissidents.
The short version
- Jose Olger Melo Charry, a French-Colombian corporal in the French Foreign Legion, was abducted on August 6 while traveling in southwestern Colombia.
- The Colombian military attributes the kidnapping to the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), a FARC breakaway group.
- Melo Charry was reportedly taken after the insurgent group discovered his military affiliation with France.
- The current status and location of the kidnapped soldier remain unverified.
Key facts
- Jose Olger Melo Charry, a French-Colombian corporal serving in the French Foreign Legion, was kidnapped on August 6 in the department of Nariño.[France 24]
- Colombian Army Colonel Mauricio Osorio confirmed that Melo Charry joined the French military four years ago and was visiting Colombia on leave.[France 24]
- The Colombian army attributed the abduction to the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), a dissident faction of the former FARC guerrilla army led by Iván Mordisco.[France 24]
- An army report indicates the insurgents took Melo Charry after identifying his status with the French Foreign Legion.[France 24]
What remains uncertain
- The current location, condition, and specific demands regarding Melo Charry have not been publicly disclosed.[France 24]