by Volko
All above is correct.FWIW, "Rural" in the rules is just a descriptor to illustrate what is represented; "Department" is always used when specifying a rule. For example:
4.2.3 Eradicate. Eradication destroys rural Cartels Bases and earns Aid but at a cost of increasing local sympathy for FARC. It may take place in any 1 Department with Cartels pieces (even Cartels Guerrillas without Bases).
The first sentence here is explanatory introduction. The specific functioning of the mechanic, the limitation to Departments (and therefore to "rural"), is in the next sentence.
By the way, Panama and Ecuador are Event text-defined as Departments once the relevant Event occurs, therefore you can Eradicate there.
vfr