The Catholic Church in Colombia said that weakening the 2016 Peace Accord could reactivate violence across the country [1].
This warning comes as the nation faces a precarious transition. The stability of the peace process is currently threatened by a combination of political opposition from the president-elect and the loss of critical international financial support.
Church officials expressed concern over the future of the pact, urging a more profound implementation of the agreement to prevent a return to systemic conflict [1]. This call for action follows a period of instability during April and May 2026 [2, 3]. During this time, violence surfaced in several regions, including the destruction of a police station in Mondomo on April 17, 2026 [2].
The fragility of the peace process is exacerbated by the suspension of USAID programs [3, 4]. According to reports, USAID previously provided up to 440 million dollars annually to Colombia [5]. The loss of these funds threatens the social and infrastructure projects essential for maintaining the ceasefire in rural areas.
Political tensions have further complicated the situation. The president-elect has criticized the pact and expressed a desire to change the agreement to better fit current realities [6]. However, other observers, including UN representatives, have said that a deeper application of the existing agreement would have prevented the current wave of violence [2].
The Catholic Church maintains that the agreement remains the primary tool for ending the conflict. The church continues to advocate for the government to prioritize the pact's original goals despite the shifting political climate [1].
“Weakening the 2016 Peace Accord could reactivate violence across the country.”
The intersection of dwindling U.S. financial aid and domestic political desire to rewrite the 2016 accord creates a power vacuum in Colombia's rural territories. If the state cannot replace USAID funding or maintain a consistent legal framework for peace, dissident groups may find an opening to resume territorial control, potentially undoing a decade of stabilization efforts.
