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Mono Jojoy, Jorge Briceno Killed During Fighting

by Amy Judd | September 23, 2010 at 08:26 am

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Mono Jojoy, Considered to be FARC's Top Military Chief, Has Been Killed in Combat

An army spokesperson confirmed the news that Mono Jojoy is dead - as Reuters points out, this could be the severest strike against FARC since 2008 when two top commanders were killed.

Jojoy was reportedly born on February 5 1953 in Cabrera and joined the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 1975. He was considered one of the most feared and respected leaders among the troops.

He was believed to be responsible for the Farc's military development and the brains behind many of the rebel army's victories.

After FARC's leader Manuel 'Sureshot' Marulanda died of a heart attack in 2008, Jojoy was considered to be in the lead to take over, but Alfonso Cano was awarded the position instead.

He had been charged by the United States for kidnapping Americans and drug trafficking. Colombia had charged him with murder, possession of weapons, assault, drug trafficking and kidnapping among others.

Jojoy had been hunted by the Colombian army for about 10 years and was finally caught in the Macarena jungle.

His death will be a major blow to the rebel group and a coup for Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, says the BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Medellin.

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Alejandro Moreno Saldarriaga (not verified)

at 14:17 on September 24th, 2010

Thank GOD ! It was about time. That murderous drug runner unfortunately will not be rotting in jail, doing penance for his crimes against humanity. Though his death is better than him being free in the jungles to continue narcotrafficking and kidnapping and extortion and murder, and land mines and bombing, and...