Colombia debates effectiveness of 2016 FARC peace agreement

A debate has emerged regarding the legacy of the 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC. Colombian Ambassador to the United Nations, Mauricio Gaona, recently addressed the UN Security Council, stating that the pact has not delivered the promised peace. Gaona reported that illegal armed groups have grown from 1,050 to 10,517 members and noted that between 2022 and 2026, 452 massacres resulted in 1,579 victims.

Gaona also highlighted failures in victim reparations, noting that 82.7% of cash assets were never delivered and only 2,356 victims have been repaired. He emphasized that the true sacrifice of peace processes is borne by the victims rather than the perpetrators.

In response, former President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Juan Manuel Santos defended the agreement. Santos argued that claiming the process is not a model for the world stems from a lack of understanding of peace processes. He maintained that the agreement allowed for the demobilization of up to 11,000 militants and facilitated progress in various sectors, particularly rural development.