Colombia’s president had a bold peace plan. It is not working
EconomistDEC 2024
Colombia Suspends Offensive Against FARC Dissidents Despite Ceasefire End
Above: Colombia's President Gustavo Petro waves on arrival at the IX Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Summit, at the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH) in Tegucigalpa on April 9, 2025. Image copyright: Orlando Sierra/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
A former guerrilla himself, Petro won the presidency with a bold plan to finally bring the decades-old internal conflict in Colombia to an end, but his so-called total peace has failed. Ceasefires actually allowed armed groups to expand as the government opted not to apply military pressure on them, and Colombia is now on the brink of another escalation.
Narrative B
The so-called total peace never intended to achieve lasting peace in Colombia and tackle the root causes of conflict, as Bogotá has relied on dialogue to cause internal divisions within and among insurgent groups and de-politicize them. It's no surprise that this plan is not working.