Colombia prepares to go to polls in election shadowed by resurgence of political violence

Colombia Prepares to Go to Polls in Election Shadowed by Resurgence of Political Violence

Colombia prepares to go to polls - Colombia’s presidential race has taken on a new dimension as the country grapples with a renewed wave of conflict, with violence intensifying in the weeks leading up to the vote. The stakes are high, not only for the nation’s political future but also for its citizens, many of whom have become casualties of the ongoing struggle between state forces, paramilitary groups, and rebel factions. The election, set for 4 May, has become a focal point for debates over how to address the nation’s decades-old internal war, which has claimed nearly half a million lives since the 1960s. With candidates offering starkly different visions, the outcome could reshape the country’s approach to peace and security.

The Cost of Reporting on Conflict

For Mateo Pérez Rueda, a 24-year-old political science student, the road to reporting on Colombia’s conflict was both personal and perilous. His work at the independent digital magazine El Confidente, alongside part-time jobs as a bicycle delivery rider and fruit vendor, had been a way to fund his passion for journalism. On 4 May, he journeyed to Briceño, a town in the western province of Antioquia, to cover the tensions between the military, paramilitaries, and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc). The next day, his family was left in despair when he failed to answer calls. Three days of frantic searching by relatives and friends ended with a grim confirmation: Rueda had been killed by the 36th Front, a Farc dissident group. His death underscores the risks journalists face in a country where the war remains deeply embedded in daily life.

The assassination of Rueda is emblematic of a broader trend. Over the past year, the frequency of guerrilla attacks, kidnappings, and massacres has surged, drawing attention to the unresolved nature of Colombia’s conflict. Last year alone, Miguel Uribe Turbay, a prominent rightwing senator and presidential candidate, was shot during a campaign event, marking a violent chapter in the political landscape. These incidents have fueled fears that the peace deal signed in 2016, which ended hostilities with the Farc, has not fully resolved the underlying tensions.

Candidates and Their Proposals

As the vote approaches, the race has narrowed to two primary contenders: Iván Cepeda, a leftist senator backed by President Gustavo Petro, and Abelardo de la Espriella, a far-right lawyer running as an outsider. Cepeda, who has long championed the government’s “total peace” strategy, is seen as a key architect of the 2016 agreement that brought Farc to the negotiating table. His campaign emphasizes continued dialogue with all armed groups, a stance that has drawn criticism from security analysts who argue that the peace process has stalled in recent years.

In contrast, Espriella and Paloma Valencia, the other leading rightwing candidate, advocate for a return to full-scale military action. Both propose dismantling the structures of negotiation and prioritizing force to suppress the insurgency. Valencia, a senator since 2014, has also claimed a familial connection to the nation’s political history, being the granddaughter of former president Guillermo León Valencia. Her campaign frames the conflict as a national security crisis, urging voters to choose “total security” over what she calls the “illusion of peace.”

The shift in momentum has been notable. While Cepeda initially led in the polls, Espriella has gained ground in recent weeks, challenging his position. The uncertainty of the election reflects a divided public, with many voters still undecided on whether to continue the path of reconciliation or revert to more aggressive tactics. If no candidate secures a majority, a runoff will be held on 21 June, intensifying the pressure on both sides to present compelling arguments.

The Peace Deal’s Legacy

Despite the 2016 peace agreement, which marked a historic end to hostilities between the government and the Farc, the conflict has not been fully extinguished. The deal was hailed as a breakthrough, reducing violence for years and allowing the country to focus on economic recovery. However, critics argue that the implementation of the agreement has been slow, with successive administrations failing to address the root causes of the war. Some Farc factions, as well as other rebel groups, have resisted full integration, leading to a resurgence of violence in certain regions.

Jorge Rueda, Mateo’s cousin and godfather, who lived just blocks away from the journalist in Yarumal, described the situation as unchanged. “Here in Antioquia, the war never ended,” he said. His words reflect the sentiment of many in regions where the conflict persists. While the homicide rate has declined from a peak of 80 per 100,000 inhabitants before the peace deal, it now stands at about 26 per 100,000, according to recent statistics. Alejandro Chala, a researcher at the Fundación Paz y Reconciliación, noted that the current level of violence, though severe, is not as widespread as in the past. “The violence now is much more territorially concentrated,” he explained. “It largely occurs in areas where illegal economic activities thrive, such as drug production, gold mining, and logging.”

Chala’s analysis highlights the evolving nature of the conflict. What was once a national struggle has become increasingly localized, with rebel groups and paramilitaries fighting for control of lucrative territories rather than engaging in broad political battles. This shift has drawn attention to the economic incentives driving the violence, particularly the illegal drug trade, which remains a cornerstone of Colombia’s economy. The Farc, now weakened, has splintered into factions that continue to operate in the shadows, while paramilitary groups have rebranded as criminal enterprises, targeting communities for profit.

Yet, the political violence has not been limited to rural areas. In Guaviare, a southern department, over 50 people were killed in clashes between two Farc dissident groups last Monday. Many of the victims were young, forcibly recruited into the ranks of the armed factions. These attacks have reignited fears that the peace process is under threat, with some viewing the violence as a deliberate effort to destabilize the agreement. For others, it is a sign that the war has simply transformed, with new actors and new strategies shaping the conflict.

Divided Pathways and Uncertain Futures

The election thus represents a crossroads for Colombia. Petro, who cannot run for re-election, has endorsed Cepeda’s vision of sustained peace, emphasizing the need for dialogue even as violence flares. However, the success of this approach remains debated. Security experts point to the growth of armed groups during periods of ceasefire, arguing that the peace deal has not eliminated the root causes of conflict. Instead, it has created new challenges, as factions adapt to the changing political landscape.

As the campaign intensifies, the specter of violence looms large. The nation’s voters must decide whether to embrace a path of negotiation or pursue a more aggressive strategy. The outcome could determine whether Colombia continues its journey toward peace or returns to the chaos of all-out war. With Mateo Rueda’s death serving as a poignant reminder of the stakes involved, the election has become more than a political contest—it is a referendum on the future of the country’s conflict. The result will not only shape Colombia’s next president but also its long-term approach to security and reconciliation.