Colombia faces rising violence and new legal proposals for armed groups

Colombia is experiencing a surge in violence against community leaders and a legislative shift regarding how the state manages armed conflict. According to the Ombudsman's Office, 126 social leaders were assassinated during the first nine months of 2026, including 12 signatories of the Peace Agreement. The highest concentrations of these killings were recorded in the departments of Cauca, Antioquia, and Valle del Cauca. The report also documented 94 massacres during this period.

In response to ongoing conflict, the government of Abelardo de la Espriella is advancing Bill 433 of 2026. This proposal seeks to extend Law 418 of 1997 for ten years and introduces mechanisms for the submission of illegal armed actors or terrorists. The bill aims to combine elements from previous peace processes, such as the investigative powers of the Attorney General's Office and prison sentences, while attempting to establish a specialized unit within the Fiscalía General de la Nación to investigate those who submit to the law.