Alvaro García, the UN special envoy for Colombia, said the UN Security Council should protect the 2016 peace agreement with the former FARC [1].
The request comes as Colombia navigates a volatile political transition toward the government of president-elect Abelardo De la Espriella. The UN warns that political polarization and violence could undermine a decade of progress toward stability.
During a session in New York on June 12, 2024 [2], García said there is a need to maintain the commitments made during the peace process. He noted that the agreement has been in effect for 10 years [1].
"Debemos proteger los avances logrados durante los diez años de vigencia del Acuerdo de Paz," García said [1].
The envoy said the transition period is particularly vulnerable to shifts in policy and political tension. He said political polarization must not prevent the country from fulfilling the commitments signed in 2016 [3].
President Gustavo Petro previously addressed the Security Council, where he said peace is a fundamental right that must be defended at all times [4]. The session included testimony from a leader from the Catatumbo region who detailed the ongoing crisis in that area [5].
García said the deep application of the peace accord could have prevented current levels of violence [3]. The UN continues to monitor the implementation of the deal to ensure that the change in administration does not result in a reversal of disarmament and reintegration efforts.
“"Debemos proteger los avances logrados durante los diez años de vigencia del Acuerdo de Paz."”
The UN's intervention signals a high level of international concern that the incoming administration of Abelardo De la Espriella may pivot away from the 2016 peace framework. By bringing this to the Security Council, the UN is attempting to institutionalize the peace process, making it a matter of international commitment rather than a domestic policy preference that can be easily overturned by a new president.
