Brief
Colombia says 132,000 killed and armed groups surge since 2016 peace deal
Foreign Minister Omar Bula warned that violence, extortion and drug trafficking have escalated under President Abelardo de la Espriella.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Colombia’s new government told the United Nations on Monday that more than 132,000 people have been killed and armed‑group membership has risen from about 6,000 to nearly 30,000 in the ten years since the 2016 peace agreement with the FARC, Foreign Minister Omar Bula said.
Bula said the figures – including 132,930 murders, roughly 100,000 extortion cases and over 2,750 kidnappings – could not be independently verified, but he argued they show that the peace deal has not delivered lasting stability. He added that the country now faces the National Liberation Army (ELN), the Clan del Golfo cartel, dozens of former FARC factions and other criminal networks, all vying for territorial control through violence, extortion and illicit economies.
Drug‑trafficking activity has surged, with 2023 coca production rising by more than 50%, according to Bula. President Abelardo de la Espriella, inaugurated in August and a supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, has pledged a hard‑line approach, breaking from former President Gustavo Petro’s negotiation policy. In the first 60 days of his term, security forces reported 32,029 arrests, seized over 135 tons of narcotics and removed 3,414 firearms. The president also signed 119 extradition orders targeting international drug rings.
De la Espriella is also dealing with a 7.4‑magnitude earthquake that struck on 13 August, five days after his inauguration. He said the aim of these actions is to regain state control, weaken armed groups and restore authority in areas where criminal organisations have filled the power vacuum.
The UN Security Council’s verification mission for the 2016 accord is set to expire on 31 October.
Key facts
- Colombia reports over 132,000 murders since the 2016 peace deal (independent.co.uk)
- Armed‑group membership rose from 6,000 to almost 30,000 in ten years (independent.co.uk)
- President de la Espriella signed 119 extradition orders in his first 60 days (independent.co.uk)
- 2023 coca production in Colombia increased by more than 50% (independent.co.uk)
- UN verification mission for the peace accord expires on 31 October 2026 (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Colombia's new government: 2016 deal with rebel group has not brought peace — but 132,000 killings”
