Dissident rebels in Colombia have captured Corporal Jose Olger Melo Chary, a Colombian national serving in the French Foreign Legion, according to a statement released on Sunday.
The Estado Mayor Central, known as the EMC, claimed official responsibility for the capture and stated that the soldier was taken on August 6 while traveling within Colombian territory.
In its announcement, the group said its forces intercepted and captured Melo Chary, an active member of the French military. The guerrilla organization assured that the corporal remains alive in their custody.
Claim of Responsibility by Dissident Group
The EMC is the largest dissident faction formed by former fighters of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC. The rebel leadership officially confirmed the soldier's detention after releasing details of the operation.
The FARC was Colombia's largest rebel army before signing a historic peace agreement with the national government in 2016 to end more than five decades of armed conflict. Dissident groups such as the EMC rejected the peace deal, choosing instead to continue guerrilla warfare, extortion and territorial control across rural regions of Colombia.
French Foreign Legion Military Service
Melo Chary is a Colombian citizen who joined the French Foreign Legion, a military branch of the French Army established in 1831 that allows foreign nationals to enlist in France's armed forces. Legionnaires serve under French military command and undergo rigorous training before deployment to operational zones worldwide.
Citizens from Latin America and other regions frequently join the Foreign Legion, seeking career opportunities and military service abroad. Despite holding Colombian nationality, active personnel in the Foreign Legion remain subject to French military regulations and protection standards while serving.
Security Situation in Colombia
Armed dissident factions in Colombia frequently operate in remote border regions and rural jungle provinces where state presence remains limited. These insurgent commands regularly engage in hostage taking, illegal mining, and drug trafficking activities to fund their operations against state authorities.
The EMC statement did not specify the exact location where Melo Chary is currently being held or outline any conditions for his release. Colombian authorities and French diplomatic officials have not yet issued public responses regarding the corporal's status.
