Kolumbien

Deadly violence targeting Colombia’s human rights defenders and community leaders maintained in 2023, according to data by think tank Indepaz. According to the non-governmental organization, 188 social leaders were assassinated last year. This is virtually the same number as was registered in 2022 when 187 leaders were assassinated, according to Indepaz.

Colombia’s largest guerrilla group, the ELN, agreed to suspend kidnapping people for profit in ongoing peace talks with the government. The agreement that was announced in Mexico comes days after guerrilla group EMC announced to end its kidnapping practices.

Colombia's EMC rebel group has announced it will stop kidnapping people for ransom. … The announcement is a boost for the government of Gustavo Petro, which is engaged in peace talks with the EMC.

Colombia’s constitutional court has rejected a far-right appeal to sink the peace policy of President Gustavo Petro.

Violence related to Colombia’s armed conflict decreased over the past year, according to the prosecution of war crimes tribunal JEP. In a report, the JEP’s Investigation and Accusation Unit (UIA) said that violent incidents registered between January and October were considerably lower compared to the same period last year.

Guerrilla group EMC has decided to resume peace talks with Colombia’s government, the latter’s chief negotiator said Wednesday. … According to the government’s chief negotiator, Camilo Gonzalez, the FARC dissidents decided to resume the talks in Catatumbo, a region close to the Venezuelan border.

FARC dissident group EMC said Sunday that it had suspended peace talks, claiming that Colombia’s government has failed to comply with made agreements.

Petro's progressive allies defeated in all major cities.

Colombia’s government and guerrilla group EMC kicked off formal peace talks after signing a three-month ceasefire. … The EMC is an illegal armed group that was founded by former FARC guerrillas in 2016 in opposition to a peace process that had been bartered by former President Juan Manuel Santos.

As Colombia prepares to mark the seventh anniversary of the peace agreement that ended the decades-long conflict there, the Government has increased its efforts to realize the accord’s goals, the UN envoy for the country said on Wednesday.