Colombia’s government has agreed a peace deal with leftist rebels to end one of the world’s longest-running conflicts. “Thanks to the strength and spirit of the Colombian people, today’s Colombia is moving toward a future of optimism and hope”.
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FARC’s cocaine-funded war has killed at least 220,000 people and displaced millions because of the violence.
Peace in Colombia now looks more likely than ever, but a big hurdle still needs to be cleared before the deal is ratified.
The peace agreement comes after a temporary ceasefire was arranged in late June.
The deal, which was reached on Wednesday 24 August in Havana, Cuba, will need to be approved by Colombians in a popular vote, which will take place on 2 October.
“This is a historic and unique opportunity… to leave behind this conflict and dedicate our efforts to building a more secure, safe, equitable, educated country, for all of us, for our children and grandchildren”, he said.
Washington has spent more than $10 billion on a joint anti-narcotics strategy called “Plan Colombia” – recently rebooted as “Peace Colombia” by Obama.
Rallying against that approval is Santos’ predecessor, former President Álvaro Uribe, whose term ended in 2010 with the FARC diminished.
Both the White House and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton congratulated Colombia on the deal and promised US support for implementing it. A Downing Street spokesperson said: “She noted that, after more than 50 years of conflict and four years of tough negotiations, this agreement is a significant personal achievement for the president that will put Colombia on a path towards long-term peace and prosperity”.
United Nations special representative Jean Arnault is expected to brief the council on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s recommendations for the United Nations mission in Colombia, which is charged with monitoring and verifying a cease-fire and helping with the disarmament of the rebels.
This means that Colombians will have to swallow some bitter pills if voting in favor of peace with the country’s oldest and largest rebel group.
Colombia’s chief negotiator Humberto de la Calle said: “The war is over. They will have – as any other political organisation – to convince the citizens with proposals and arguments to be elected”, President Juan Manuel Santos said.
Once the agreement is signed, a 180-day countdown begins toward the full demobilization of the fighters, a process that the global community will monitor.
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Former President Alvaro Uribe, Santos’ predecessor, opposes the peace process.
