Colombia urged to pause multibillion‑dollar La Guajira road contracts

Outgoing President De la Espriella asked the incumbent Colombian government to refrain from signing a series of large‑scale road contracts in La Guajira before the transition of power. The contracts include seven agreements for Uribia worth about 2 trillion Colombian pesos, three for Riohacha, Maicao and Manaure valued at roughly 1.1 trillion pesos, and six oversight contracts totaling 204 billion pesos.

The concern is that the deals, which would remain in force until 2035, are being awarded only days before the new administration takes office, limiting the incoming government's ability to evaluate them. De la Espriella’s transition team requested that the outgoing administration hold off on signing the contracts until an independent technical, legal and financial review can be completed. The government said it will review the projects and will continue those that demonstrate fiscal responsibility and community benefit, while taking administrative or legal action on any identified irregularities.