Colombia

[…] This Brief examines the challenges of implementing the peace agreement and explores how the European Union can support the implementation process and reconciliation efforts in Colombia.Artikeltext

Colombia's President Iván Duque Monday ordered a mass deployment of the public force to clear the roads of peaceful demonstrations he considers to be “an act of sabotage.” Despite international calls to stop the bloodshed, Duque has insisted the infamous Mobile Anti-Riot Squad (ESMAD) be summoned together with the armed forces.

At least five people died in Cali amid fresh violence on Monday night. The south-western city, which has a large Afro-Colombian population, has been the setting for much for the violence since protests began peacefully with a nationwide general strike last Wednesday.

Increase in displacement comes amid threats, murders and violence between armed groups, human rights ombudsman says.

The chiefs of Colombia’s transitional justice system said Monday that the ongoing assassinations of former FARC fighters and community leaders is threatening their work. In a joint statement, the presidents of war crimes tribunal JEP, the Truth Commission and the Special Unit for Missing Persons urged the Ombudsman to take action.

Colombia’s war crimes tribunal on Monday called two top military officials to trial over their alleged participation in the execution of more than 60 civilians. … The two generals are the first active military commanders to be called to testify over the grim army practice that cost the lives of more than 6,400 civilians between 2002 and 2008 alone.

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Last week the country launched a 7,000-strong elite force to fight rebels financed by drug trafficking.

The director of the United Nations’ human rights office in Colombia urged to prioritize a government policy to dismantle paramilitary groups in order to secure peace.

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, welcomed on Friday, progress on the investigation in Colombia of people falsely presented as having been killed in combat as "an important step in fighting impunity".