Colombia’s Fragile Path to Peace: A Lesson in Perseverance

Colombia’s journey toward peace stands as a profound reminder of how challenging it is to maintain momentum once conflict resolution begins. After decades of internal strife that claimed over 260,000 lives and displaced millions, the 2016 peace accord between the government and FARC rebels offered unprecedented hope. This historic agreement, which earned then-President Juan Manuel Santos a Nobel Peace Prize, represented one of the most comprehensive peace frameworks ever negotiated. It addressed fundamental issues of rural development, political participation, drug policy reform, and transitional justice. Yet today, Colombia finds itself sliding back toward violence, with former FARC dissidents regrouping, ELN guerrillas expanding their operations, and criminal organizations flourishing in regions where state presence remains weak.

The unraveling of Colombia’s peace process reveals the complex interplay between political will, institutional capacity, and societal trust. When Iván Duque succeeded Santos as president in 2018, his administration’s tepid implementation of key accord provisions sent signals that undermined confidence in the government’s commitment. Critical land reform initiatives stalled, reintegration programs for former combatants received inadequate funding, and rural development projects meant to address root causes of conflict were deprioritized. These implementation gaps created dangerous vacuums in former FARC-controlled territories, which were quickly filled by armed groups eager to control lucrative illegal economies, particularly the cocaine trade. For many ex-combatants who had laid down arms in good faith, the government’s perceived betrayal made returning to conflict seem like the only viable path forward.

The Colombian experience illuminates a fundamental truth about peacebuilding: signing agreements represents only the beginning of a long, arduous process that requires sustained commitment across multiple political administrations. Peace is not an event but a generational project demanding consistent investment and attention. The most successful peace processes worldwide share common elements: they maintain momentum through political transitions, ensure broad societal ownership beyond elite negotiations, and address structural inequalities that originally fueled conflict. Colombia’s peace accord contained these essential ingredients, but translating them from paper to practice proved extraordinarily difficult amid political polarization, budgetary constraints, and the entrenched interests of those who benefit from continued conflict.

Perhaps most poignantly, Colombia’s struggle demonstrates how the human dimension of reconciliation can be overlooked in policy discussions. For communities that experienced decades of violence, peace means more than security—it represents acknowledgment of suffering, opportunity for dignified livelihoods, and participation in decisions affecting their futures. In regions like Cauca, Nariño, and Catatumbo, where violence has returned with devastating force, local leaders describe feeling abandoned twice: first by a state that failed to protect them during the conflict, and again when peace promises went unfulfilled. The assassination of hundreds of social leaders and ex-combatants since 2016 has severely damaged trust in the peace process. These killings represent not just individual tragedies but systematic attempts to dismantle grassroots peacebuilding efforts and maintain violent control over territories and resources.

The international community bears some responsibility for Colombia’s backsliding as well. Initial enthusiasm and financial support for implementation gradually waned as global attention shifted elsewhere. Peace requires patient accompaniment rather than the boom-and-bust cycle of international engagement that often follows high-profile agreements. Foreign governments and multilateral organizations could have maintained stronger pressure on Colombian authorities to fulfill commitments, particularly around protection for vulnerable communities and rural development. The United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia has documented implementation shortfalls, but these reports haven’t translated into sufficient international pressure or support to correct course. Meanwhile, continued emphasis on drug eradication over comprehensive rural development has undermined stability in conflict-affected regions.

Despite these sobering realities, Colombia’s peace journey also contains powerful examples of resilience and hope. Countless communities continue building peace from the ground up through extraordinary acts of reconciliation, collective memory initiatives, and alternative development projects. Former enemies work side by side in cooperatives and social enterprises. Victims’ organizations persistently advocate for truth and justice. Colombia’s transitional justice system, though under political pressure, has conducted groundbreaking investigations into war crimes. The current administration under President Gustavo Petro—himself a former guerrilla—has renewed focus on comprehensive implementation and launched ambitious “Total Peace” negotiations with remaining armed groups. These efforts remind us that peacebuilding, despite its setbacks and challenges, remains possible through persistent commitment and the courage to address root causes of conflict. Colombia’s experience offers both cautionary lessons and inspiring examples for societies worldwide navigating the difficult terrain between conflict and sustainable peace.