On 1 December, Colombia's Attorney General charged former Finance Minister Ricardo Bonilla and former Interior Minister Luis Fernando Velasco – who were in office between 2023 and 2024 – with corruption, including criminal conspiracy and bribery. The charges allege that the former officials directed public funds from disaster management and infrastructure agencies to companies linked to lawmakers in exchange for congressional support for government-backed legislation, such as pension reforms. Prosecutors claim the scheme involved contracts exceeding USD 150 million and was part of a broader effort to secure legislative majorities. Both ex-ministers deny the allegations, asserting their innocence. 

Sources: El Colombiano, AP News, InfoBae

In November, Colombia faced intense scrutiny over military airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of at least 12 minors forcibly recruited by armed groups. These operations, targeting dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), have reignited debates about human rights abuses in the country. President Gustavo Petro, who initially suspended airstrikes upon taking office in 2022 to avoid civilian casualties, reinstated them last year amid escalating violence. The deaths of children in these strikes have drawn criticism from human rights advocates and opposition lawmakers, who argue that such actions violate international humanitarian law. The government defends the strikes as necessary to combat illegal armed groups, blaming these groups for using children as human shields. However, critics highlight the lack of effective intelligence and the failure to address systemic issues like forced recruitment. 

Sources: El País, AP News, Reuters, Le Monde, Al Jazeera 

On 25 November, the Superior Tribunal of Antioquia sentenced Santiago Uribe, brother of former President Álvaro Uribe (2002 - 2010), to 28 years in prison for crimes against humanity, aggravated homicide, and conspiracy to commit a crime. The court found Santiago Uribe guilty of leading the paramilitary group ‘The 12 Apostles’, which operated in the 1990s and was responsible for systematic killings and other human rights abuses. According to the ruling, the group carried out ‘social cleansing’, targeting individuals deemed undesirable, with documented collusion from state security forces. This landmark ruling marks an important step to ensuring accountability in the context of allegations of state-paramilitary collusion. Human rights organizations have commended the decision as a step forward for victims and an important effort to curtail the influence of paramilitary groups within Colombian society.

Sources: El País, InfoBae, Al Jazeera 

On 21 October, an appeals court overturned the conviction of former President Álvaro Uribe for bribery and witness tampering. The court cited ‘structural deficiencies’ in the original ruling, including insufficient evidence and procedural flaws. Uribe, who served as president from 2002 to 2010, had been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest in August for allegedly attempting to influence witnesses tied to paramilitary groups. The court's decision has elicited mixed reactions: supporters view it as a vindication of justice, while critics, including President Gustavo Petro, regard it as a setback for accountability and the rule of law. The victims in the case have announced that they will appeal the latest decision before Colombia’s Supreme Court, leaving the case unresolved. 

Sources: International IDEA, El Pais, AP News, Latin America Reports 

The government introduced a bill proposing a referendum on establishing a constituent assembly, marking the first step toward replacing the 1991 constitution. The proposed 71-member assembly, which would be entrusted with writing the new constitution, would include 44 elected delegates, ensuring gender parity. The remaining seats would be allocated to underrepresented groups such as Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, peasant farmers, and conflict victims. Though the proposal is expected to face significant opposition in Congress, proponents argue that the assembly is necessary to address deep-rooted systemic challenges that cannot be effectively tackled through ordinary constitutional amendment procedures. Among those challenges are land redistribution, political participation, social justice, environmental protection and the rights of marginalized groups. Unlike previous reform efforts, this approach aims to create a dedicated body tasked with drafting a new constitution.  

Sources: Ministerio de Justicia y del Derecho, Colombia Reports, El Tiempo

On 16 and 18 September, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP)—Colombia’s transitional justice mechanism created under the 2016 Peace Accord—delivered its first rulings. The tribunal issued sentences against top FARC commanders for more than 21,000 kidnappings and against former military involved in ‘false positives’—the execution of civilians falsely reported as killings of combatants. After years of investigation and dialogue with victims and perpetrators, the rulings open the JEP’s restorative sanctions phase, which emphasises truth, accountability and reparation measures over imprisonment. Former FARC leaders and ex-military members will serve eight years of community service, which could involve identifying common graves and demining territories. Though critics question the leniency of the sentences and some victims expressed frustration over their limited participation in the process, supporters highlight that armed actors have publicly admitted responsibility, asked forgiveness and committed to repair the harm.

Sources: El Pais, BBC, La Silla Vacia (1), La Silla Vacia (2)