Former Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos, who negotiated the historic peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and won the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize, urged the country’s new leader, President Abelardo De La Espriella, to fully implement the agreement.
Speaking to Reuters in Oslo on the ten‑year anniversary of the pact, Santos said the elections have “greatly polarised the country” and that completing the deal could provide common ground and help solve many of Colombia’s pressing problems, including farmer poverty, drug trafficking and security in remaining conflict zones.
Background on the peace accord
The comprehensive agreement, signed in 2016 with the help of Norway and Cuba, was incorporated into Colombia’s constitution and designed to be rolled out over a 15‑year period. It includes measures such as support for demobilised rebels, land reform for poor farmers and the creation of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), a transitional justice court tasked with investigating crimes committed during the decades‑long conflict.
Colombia’s internal war, which began over land rights and social issues, has lasted more than six decades, involving left‑wing guerrilla groups, right‑wing paramilitary squads and drug traffickers. While drug trafficking has traditionally funded armed groups, illegal gold mining now provides a major source of income for them.
Challenges to full implementation
Santos noted that his successors, former presidents Iván Duque and Gustavo Petro, have not fully carried out the accord, citing fiscal constraints, the COVID‑19 pandemic and other political concerns. He criticized Petro’s “total peace” policy, which sought negotiations with additional criminal groups, saying it delayed implementation of the FARC deal.
During his campaign, De La Espriella – a right‑wing lawyer who has represented individuals linked to paramilitary groups – criticized parts of the accord, especially the JEP, calling it ineffective and costly. He pledged to dismantle the court.
However, in his inauguration speech, De La Espriella affirmed respect for the special court’s role in Colombia’s judicial system, promising rigorous oversight.
Santos’ appeal for unity
“That’s why I hope (De La Espriella) understands that implementing the peace accord is perhaps one of the best programmes of government that he could put into action,” Santos said.
The peace deal narrowly failed to win a popular referendum in 2016 but was later modified and passed by Congress. Critics, including De La Espriella, argue that reparations and sentences handed down by the JEP are not harsh enough, while supporters contend the accord has already demobilised much of the FARC’s leadership and transformed the group into a legal political party.
Some former guerrillas have broken away from the agreement and re‑armed as “dissident” groups, underscoring the importance of fully enacting the deal’s provisions to sustain peace.
Implications for Colombia’s future
Full implementation of the accord could strengthen rural economies, reduce illicit drug flows and improve security in former conflict zones, aligning with Santos’ view that the peace process remains a cornerstone for national reconciliation.
As President De La Espriella’s administration begins its term, the international community and Colombian citizens will watch closely to see whether the promised steps toward lasting peace are realized.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
