The 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC-EP rebel group must be implemented in full and cannot be allowed to falter, the UN's senior official in Colombia told the Security Council on 12 October 2026. Miroslav Jenča, who heads the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, said the accord requires proper funding, better coordination between institutions and stronger protection for former combatants — while acknowledging that implementation has had "many shortcomings" and that much remains to be done.

The security situation has deteriorated sharply in conflict-affected regions. According to government data presented to legislators, illegal armed groups grew from around 15,000 members in 2022 to approximately 28,000 today. Communities in those regions remain exposed to armed groups, geographical isolation and limited access to public services. Child recruitment, particularly among ethnic communities, and threats and attacks against women were flagged as major concerns before the Council.

Jenča condemned the killings of civil society leaders María Ovidia Palechor and James Flor in Cauca on 1 September, underscoring the risks faced by rights defenders. Since the agreement was signed in 2016, 501 former combatants have been killed, most recently on 22 September in Cesar.

Despite the challenges, more than 11,000 former FARC-EP members remain committed to reintegration, the Council heard. With state and international support, they have developed around 6,000 productive projects and 300 cooperatives in sectors including agriculture, tourism, trade and textiles. Jenča highlighted tourism initiatives involving former combatants and victims as a means of stimulating local economies, though he noted that economic sustainability and security remain significant challenges.

On the broader framework, Jenča said security policy and the peace agreement should reinforce each other, and that the accord must be carried out comprehensively. "We look forward to the further definition of its policies, and we stand ready to support the Government in this regard," he said, pointing to the relationships of trust the UN Verification Mission has built over nearly a decade in some of the regions most affected by continuing violence. He called for "sustained international engagement in order to overcome remaining obstacles," saying Colombia had entered "a new political chapter, with wide ranging challenges ahead."

This article is based on a primary source and has undergone editorial review prior to publication.