Former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos expresses deep concern over Colombia's deteriorating security situation, as armed groups take advantage of President Gustavo Petro's faltering peace strategy. Despite the successful 2016 peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) that led to a significant reduction in violence, numerous new factions have emerged, igniting conflict over territories and drug trade. Santos, highlighting the need for effective negotiations, warns that recent government failures and violence threaten to undo gains made in the peace process, jeopardizing the safety of civilians.
Colombia risks sliding back into its violent past as armed groups exploit the stumbling peace strategy of President Gustavo Petro, the architect of its landmark 2016 peace deal has told the Guardian. In a rare interview, former president Juan Manuel Santos warned that gains from the peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) are quickly being undone as armed factions exploit negotiation efforts to recruit new combatants and seize control of new land.
The following year was the least violent in five decades but Santos's conservative successor, Ivan Duque who campaigned on a promise to kill off the peace process refused to implement the accord's agreements.
Since then, dozens of new groups have sprung up to fill territory once controlled by the Farc and are warring with each other to control the cocaine trade, illegal mining and extortion rackets.
When he was elected in 2022, Petro pledged to launch talks with every major armed group as part of his Total Peace strategy. But negotiations have yielded little progress and the government has been repeatedly forced to break off talks as rebels refuse to stop kidnapping and killing civilians.
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