A decade after Colombia’s historic peace agreement promised an end to one of Latin America’s deadliest conflicts, the violence is still claiming lives, with more than 500 former rebels who surrendered their weapons now dead.
A report by Colombia’s Ombudsman says 521 former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC, have been killed since the 2016 peace deal was signed.
The victims were reportedly targeted mainly by drug traffickers and dissident rebel factions that rejected the agreement.
The accord brought significant reductions in decades of conflict by persuading FARC fighters to disarm in exchange for political participation and reintegration into civilian life. However, violence continues in remote parts of the country, where illegal armed groups remain active.
The Ombudsman disclosed that killings of former combatants increased by 38.5 per cent last year, amid record levels of cocaine production. Of the more than 14,100 people who signed the agreement, about 11,000 are still complying with its terms.
Under the deal, former rebels who admitted their crimes, compensated victims and committed to abandoning violence could receive alternative sentences instead of prison terms. The agreement also guaranteed the group political representation in Congress for eight years.
The report comes as President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office three months ago, maintains a hard-line position against negotiations with armed groups, vowing to pursue them through imprisonment or military action.
The Ombudsman has warned that the gains made through the peace process must not be allowed to unravel, particularly as Colombia continues to grapple with decades of armed violence.
It also reported a 740 per cent increase in forced displacement between 2017 and 2025, underscoring the continuing humanitarian impact of the conflict.
