The initiative to suspend both arrest warrants and extradition requests against displaced members of the Gulf clan was launched with the aim of promoting their involvement in the dialogue process and increasing confidence with a view to possible demobilization, as Europa Press details. This mechanism, intended to promote the inclusion of armed actors at the negotiating table, is at the heart of the agreement between the Colombian government and the Gulf clan. The new understanding aims to reduce armed violence, expand justice mechanisms and consolidate international supervision in the affected areas.
According to Europa Press, authorities and the Clan del Golfo agreed to relocate members of the armed group to Belén de Bajirá and Unguía in Chocó and to Tierralta in Córdoba as part of the first phase of establishing temporary sites. This provision, adopted after negotiations in Doha, provides for a gradual reduction in armed activity and prioritizes reducing clashes in particularly affected areas. The process is supported by the Organization of American States (OAS) through the Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OAS) and a network of international mediators including Qatar, Spain, Norway and Switzerland.
According to Europa Press, one of the main innovations of the agreement is the expansion of the illegal crop substitution pilot program, which will now cover ten municipalities in Córdoba, Antioquia and Bolívar, doubling the areas covered in previous commitments. This action aims to provide sustainable and legal economic alternatives in regions where the presence of illegal economies has significantly affected the social fabric and local security.
The document, signed by the government’s chief negotiator, Álvaro Jiménez Millán, and Luis Armando Pérez, representative of the Clan del Golfo, underlines the importance of gradually stopping the armed group’s involvement in drug trafficking and creating conditions that improve the quality of life in communities affected by violence. Europa Press stated that the temporary suspension of judicial proceedings is proposed as an incentive for the reintegration of former combatants and as a measure to reduce the risks associated with the cessation of armed activities.
One of the points addressed in the agreement includes assessing the health status of people linked to the Gulf clan who are currently serving sentences in penitentiaries in Colombia and abroad. According to Europa Press, the Presidency of Colombia has indicated that this procedure aims to protect fundamental rights and create conditions for a safer transition to civilian life.
The monitoring and follow-up of the agreed commitments is the responsibility of the OAS-led mission in support of the peace process in Colombia, as well as the supervision of international guarantors and mediators. Europa Press reported that the engagement of external actors was seen as fundamental to deepening transparency, strengthening discipline and increasing trust between parties involved in the process.
Both the negotiating delegations and the observer countries issued a joint statement pointing to the “responsibility and commitment” shown during the talks, as quoted by Europa Press. The international support adopted in this process aims to strengthen development in areas affected by armed conflict in the past, to respond to demands for truth and reparation for victims, and to ensure guarantees that prevent the repetition of violent cycles.
Europa Press also documented the appreciation expressed to Qatar and other international mediators for their contribution to bringing the parties closer together and for their role in implementing the commitments made in Doha. The final document of the negotiations contains a call on Colombian society to increase its efforts for peace, promote social cohesion and overcome political, ideological and religious divisions that have contributed to the fragmentation of the affected areas.
Various “obstacles and challenges” were identified during the negotiations, which, according to Europa Press, require robust monitoring mechanisms and the implementation of strategies of trust and persistence within the process. The implementation of the concentration zones and the deployment of alternative production programs will begin in March, including humanitarian and support measures for the affected communities.
The agreement signed between the Colombian government and the Gulf clan, reported by Europa Press, envisages as its main objective to lay the foundation for a gradual demobilization of the armed structure, while promoting measures aimed at limiting its influence on the illegal economy and promoting lasting changes in the most vulnerable regions. Mediation measures, monitoring by multilateral organizations and the implementation of productive and humanitarian initiatives are among the strategies being considered to restore stability and improve well-being in areas historically affected by armed violence.
According to Europa Press, international actors reiterated their intention to continue to actively participate in the next phases of the peace process, with the expectation that the initiatives developed will respond to demands for reparations and strengthen the foundations of peace in communities that have experienced the conflict over a long period of time and directly.
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