Manuel Rueda
Manuel Rueda is a freelance journalist based in Bogota, Colombia where he has been living for the past five years. Manuel has covered the peace deal between Colombia's government and the FARC rebels, Venezuela's political crisis and how Colombia is adapting to the arrival of more than one million Venezuelan migrants. He is a dual citizen of Colombia and Venezuela and always ready to travel. Last year he also produced stories in Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru and Brazil.
Colombia churches push for dialogue in the wake of renewed political violence
In Colombia, religious leaders are calling on politicians to tone down their rhetoric, as incidents of political violence have people on edge. Earlier this month, seven people were killed as rebels bombed police stations around the city of Cali. On June 7, a would-be assassin shot presidential candidate Miguel Uribe, who’s still recovering in the hospital.
USAID freeze could lead to instability in Latin America and encourage migration
A US shutdown of foreign aid is starting to have devastating impacts around the world. Health programs and even military assistance are now paused in many countries. In Latin America, some fear that the aid freeze could hurt economic programs and encourage more people to migrate to the United States.
Deportations create tensions between the US and Latin America, with China possibly benefiting from the situation
As the US increases deportation flights to crack down on illegal immigration, some Latin American nations are complaining about how their citizens are being treated. Meanwhile, as tensions with the US increase, China could be stepping in to try and fill the void.
Thousands flee their homes in northeast Colombia amid worst security crisis in a decade
A series of attacks against civilians has forced Colombia’s government to break off peace talks with one of Colombia’s largest rebel groups as fears mount that fighting between rebel groups in the Catatumbo region could spread to other parts of the country.
Closing the Darién Gap with a barbed-wire fence
Panama has started to build a barbed-wire fence in the Darien jungle between South and Central America. The goal is to stop migrants from reaching the US. But by blocking the trails most frequently used by the migrants, the fence could reroute people on their journeys, pushing them to take dangerous detours.