The blood of Colombia’s past and present is being re‑drawn across its soil as the nation heads into a presidential showdown that could decide the country’s security future.
Vigilantes and civilians alike mourn the escalating violence that has spanned six decades. Decades of conflict between the state, FARC, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Clan del Golfo have claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, while the past five years have seen these illegal armed groups double their membership. Recent clashes near the Venezuelan border displaced tens of thousands, forcing new victims into still‑breeding crises of the kind that have long plagued the region.
In the midst of armed men with machetes and bombs, the electorate faces a choice: Abelardo de la Espriella – a right‑wing businessman and self‑styled “El Tigre” who carries an endorsement from former U.S. President Donald Trump – promises brutal crack‑downs, 10 mega‑prisons and an end to any negotiations with criminal groups; or Iván Cepeda, a left‑wing senator who has championed Petro’s “total peace” policy and pledges a blend of repression and social programmes to tackle the structural roots of violence.
“AI displacements have risen 300 % since 2024,” says Isabelita Mercado Pineda, a government advisor for peace, victims and reconciliation. “We have not seen a wave like this for two decades, and it reflects a failure of the nation’s security strategy.” Her words echo a populace that has watched gang‑territorial claims over the drug trade and mining sites push families into fear and loss.
Another voice in this chorus is a young voter from Barranquilla who says: “Cepeda’s proposals consider the social roots of insecurity. We want negotiated security – combining state repression with social programmes.” She is joined by a broad group of youths who see the left candidate as a balance between firm action and social reform.
De la Espriella’s Mission
He declares any criminal who refuses to surrender will be taken down. His platform includes mega‑prisons, a tough military crackdown, and the closing of any legal loopholes that provide a “carrot” for armed groups. His supporters paint him as a tough figure who is ready to fight drug‑trafficking and armed groups with the U.S. as an ally, justifying his commitment with Trump’s endorsement of this “rational” approach.
Cepeda’s Reconciliation Plan
He is the architect of the current president’s 2016 peace deal that disarmed thousands of FARC fighters. He promises social transformations “that the country urgently cries out for” while aiming to make changes to the peace strategy and remain open to dialogue with armed groups. He positions himself as an advocate for negotiating security—balancing harsh policy with the underpinnings of poverty, inequality and youth involvement.
The election is a pivotal moment for those who recognise a stark split. The violence itself, however, is shaping politics rather than simply backing the political outcomes. Whether the electorate will favour a hard‑liner or a negotiated approach remains a question that will define the nation’s trajectory in the bright, yet unstable, days ahead.
— First round vote results: de la Espriella narrowly edged out Cepeda, but the contest will yet continue in the runoff.
