President Gustavo Petro faces the important task of continuing the implementation of the historic 2016 Peace Accord between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). In this Colombia Risk Analysis special report, we analyze the history of the implementation of the peace accord, the current status of implementation, the role of the private sector in the peacebuilding process, and the likely steps the new government must take to further the comprehensive enactment of the peace deal.
There are opportunities for Petro to accelerate overall peace efforts in areas such as, negotiations with the ELN, the economic development of demobilized ex-combatants, the provision of security guarantees to community leaders and ex-combatants, and the implementation of the comprehensive rural reform. However, the government will still confront obstacles in implementing the peace deal, including from Colombia’s current fiscal and budgetary challenges, which were exacerbated by the pandemic and will worsen in the face of an oncoming global recession, a divided Congress, and antagonistic leaders within Colombia’s security forces. Ultimately, Petro will be emboldened to implement his vision of peace but will quickly have to identify solutions to the obstacles facing the peace process. Otherwise, the enthusiasm that propelled him to victory will quickly turn into disillusionment and anger in a complex social environment that has already seen major protests staged against the government in 2019 and 2021.
