Colombia's president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella announced plans to shut down the presidential peace office, following outgoing leader Gustavo Petro's unsuccessful attempts to negotiate 'total peace' with armed groups. De la Espriella, whose campaign focused on 'iron fist' security policies, said he would suspend any ongoing dialogue with these groups. 'The peace commissioner is finished because there will be no more false peace processes in my government,' he stated on social media. De la Espriella vowed to prioritize the security of the people and dismantle the system of impunity that currently prevails.
Background on Peace Efforts
The Office of the High Commissioner for Peace, headed by Otty Patino, has held talks with armed groups, including the ELN guerrilla force and dissidents of the disarmed FARC. In June, De la Espriella gave these groups one month to surrender, stating he would not make 'unacceptable concessions' like those received from the outgoing regime. Experts say guerrillas used peace talks to grow in strength under Petro's administration.
Wider Security Overhaul
The shutdown of the peace office is part of a broader plan to eliminate more than 200 presidential positions. De la Espriella also announced the closure of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), which was established under Colombia's 2016 peace agreement with FARC to investigate crimes committed during the group's insurgency. During his campaign, De la Espriella proposed bombing campaigns against guerrillas and the construction of'mega-prisons' similar to those in El Salvador.
