Colombia’s Armed Groups Expand Under Petro’s Leadership
Colombia has seen a marked increase in territorial control by illegal armed groups, which have grown significantly in membership during President Gustavo Petro’s administration. Over the past three years, these groups have expanded by approximately 45%, increasing from an estimated 15,120 members to around 21,958, according to a report shared anonymously with various outlets.
Last year alone, the number of armed group members rose by 7%, adding 1,469 new individuals. Petro, previously associated with the Marxist M19 terrorist organization and Colombia’s first leftist president, assumed office in August 2022. The growth rate reported now stands about 2.65 times higher than the 17% increase noted during the presidency of Ivan Duque, Petro’s predecessor. Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed this increase and criticized how some groups are capitalizing on the government’s peace initiatives.
Eduardo Pizarro, a conflict expert at Columbia National University, weighed in, stating that the escalating numbers indicate failures in peace policies and suggesting that negotiations may not effectively diminish the presence of these armed groups.
Petro introduced a policy package called “Total Peace” aimed at addressing Colombia’s long-standing issues with violence and armed gangs. This approach diverges from previous administrations by attempting to negotiate with these organizations, coupled with investments in educational and social rehabilitation programs.
Critics and local media have described the peace efforts as lacking. Surveys indicate a growing discontent, with around 70% of the populace believing that the Total Peace initiative is misdirected. Furthermore, over 80% of respondents feel that guerrilla activities are worsening. In April, the current Minister of Home Affairs, Armando Benedetti, admitted that the Total Peace strategy “didn’t work.”
One aspect of the Total Peace initiative, named “Youth of Peace,” aims to engage impoverished young Colombians by offering scholarships and educational opportunities in an effort to redirect them away from armed groups. However, reports suggest the program has faced operational challenges. After an assassination attempt on conservative senator Miguel Uribe by a member of this initiative, concerns about the program’s effectiveness have intensified.
The minors involved in the incident were reportedly as young as 14 and shot Uribe multiple times at a campaign rally, leaving the senator in critical condition. Petro acknowledged the situation, explaining how the adolescent was identified as exhibiting troubling behavior and had withdrawn from educational commitments.
Notably, armed groups have operated in Colombia for over six decades, funding their activities through drug trafficking and illegal mining. The 2016 “Peace Agreement” was an attempt to negotiate with the FARC guerrilla group, which awarded its leadership new privileges, stirring controversy over whether government claims about the group’s intent were accurate.
Last June, FARC launched a series of deadly attacks in southwestern Colombia, resulting in fatalities and numerous injuries. Clashes between the FARC and the National Liberation Army (ELN) have led to many deaths and displacements, primarily fueled by competition over coca crop territories. As coca leaves are essential for cocaine production, their cultivation has hit record levels under Petro’s presidency. Interestingly, Petro has advocated for the legalization of cocaine, arguing that its illegality is largely based on its Latin American origin and drawing parallels to whiskey.
