Gustavo Petro’s government seeks to dismantle criminal groups in Colombian cities, facing challenges and controversies. Despite progress, a 20% increase in armed groups raises concerns about the effectiveness of the peace process.

By Juan Carlos Díaz

Journalist FORO HUMANOS

In the metropolitan areas of the Aburrá Valley, in the department of Antioquia; Buenaventura, in Valle and Quibdó; in Chocó, are the cities of Colombia in which spaces for socio-legal dialogue are currently being carried out with Organized Crime Groups (GDO) and Common Organized Crime Groups (GDCO), by the government of President Gustavo Petro, to reach agreements for a future disarmament and dismantling of these criminal organizations.

Although there is legal uncertainty in these processes, since there is no submission law approved by the Congress of the Republic of Colombia, significant progress has been made in the reduction of certain crimes in the metropolitan areas and cities where formal processes are carried out.

In the case of “Shottas” and “Espartanos” in the port of Buenaventura, they continue with strong territorial control, and extortion activities persist and also the complexities implied by the presence in the area of ​​armed actors such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN and the FARC dissidents.

On November 4, 2022, the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, sanctioned the modification, addition and extension of Law 418 of Total Peace, which defines State policy, preserving and guaranteeing human security, through the definitive solution to the armed conflict in Colombia.

“This is great news for the country and for all Colombians who want our children and grandchildren to grow up in a country free of war where dialogue prevails over any form of violence,” President Petro added at the time.

Violence growth: challenges in Total Peace

This Law grants powers to the President of the Republic, the High Commissioner for Peace and the Government to advance negotiations with illegal armed groups in the country.

It was precisely in the port of Buenaventura where the government of Gustavo Petro began this pilot Peace project with the criminal gangs of “Shottas” and “Espartanos”, who had been generating serious acts of violence in the urban area, with extortions, homicides, especially of young people, as well as disappearances and internal displacements.

But in this process of searching for Total Peace in Colombia, several setbacks have occurred that are putting Democracy in this South American country at stake. During a political control by the Congress of the Republic of the outgoing Peace Commissioner, Danilo Rueda, it was revealed that organized armed groups have expanded 20 percent in Colombia during the Petro government.

Ceasefires have not improved security; On the contrary, within the framework of Total Peace, Organized Armed Groups have grown in members, have expanded territorially, and violence has intensified.

Some congressmen assured that, on the contrary, during the government of President Gustavo Petro, armed groups have grown in number, have expanded territorially and there has been a general increase in violence throughout the country.

Persistent violence in Colombia

In this political control, it was revealed that after reviewing nearly 50 reports from different organizations such as Indepaz, Pares, the UN and official reports from Mindefensa and the Ombudsman’s Office, it was found that in the first year of the government of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, the perception security decreased from 41 percent to 37 percent and the following indicators increased alarmingly:

– Confrontation between armed groups +85%

– Human trafficking +57%

– Extortions +15%

– Kidnappings +17%

– Attacks against oil pipelines +56%

– Lockdowns +24%

Likewise, the Congress of Colombia assures that in the first half of 2023, at least 117 violent events were recorded, because the cessations to the game with the ELN guerrilla, the Mayo State of the FARC, the Self-Defense Conquistadors of the Sierra Nevada and the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia.

Increasing violence

For example, the National Liberation Army, ELN, increased its presence in Colombian territory by 17.5 percent, occupying almost 20 percent of the country in 215 municipalities with 6,100 members. After it was decreed on August 3, 2023, more than 13 violent events have occurred with injured people, missing minors, and kidnappings.

For its part, the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia increased by 12% and expanded in 270 municipalities, with a presence in 24% of the country. They are responsible for more than 20 violent actions in the first half of 2023 that cover selective homicides, extortion and social control.

Regarding the Conquistadores Self-Defense Forces of the Sierra Nevada, 1,100 members fully control the department of Magdalena, whose capital is Santa Marta and located on the northern coast of Colombia. Through kidnapping, forced disappearance, and at least 49 homicides in the first half of 2023.

In turn, the Mayo State of the FARC increased its presence by 39.5 percent, occupying almost 15 percent of the country in 166 municipalities, with 3,480 members. Until September 2023, 247 violent actions were recorded, including forced recruitment, displacement, kidnappings, mobility restrictions and murders.