The Colombian government announced on Tuesday that it is amending its legal framework to officially classify non-state armed groups operating in the country as terrorist organizations. The proposed changes will apply to guerrilla organizations, drug trafficking networks, and other illegal armed groups.
The move marks a key element of the tougher security policy introduced by President Abelardo de la Espriella, a hard-right politician who assumed office on August 7. De la Espriella promised to crush illegal armed factions with support from the United States, abandoning the strategy of his social democratic predecessor, Gustavo Petro, who sought to restore peace through negotiated settlements.
Legal definition and parliamentary registry
The legal overhaul comes as Colombia confronts its worst wave of violence in a decade. Interior Minister Rodrigo Lara stated that the government is drafting reforms designed to provide law enforcement and judicial authorities with the necessary tools to combat criminal organizations.
In an interview with the radio station Blu, Lara explained that the legislation submitted to parliament will formally define what constitutes a terrorist organization. This legal definition will allow the state to establish an official registry of listed armed groups.
While the minister did not specify which exact groups will be targeted first, he indicated that individuals allegedly responsible for arson would be included on the list. President de la Espriella has blamed recent destructive fires across the Latin American nation on deliberate arson.
Wildfire damage and arson investigation
Fires in the western region of Colombia have already destroyed at least 200,000 stremmata of forest land and agricultural crops. A well-informed source told Agence France-Presse on Monday that the prosecutor's office is conducting an investigation to determine whether the blazes were caused by intentional acts of arson.
The country is simultaneously dealing with the El Niño climate phenomenon, which causes reduced rainfall and higher temperatures across the region. Meteorologists expect this year's El Niño event to be among the strongest in recent years, and potentially the strongest on record.
Alliance with the United States
De la Espriella, a millionaire lawyer and businessman who had never held elected or political office prior to winning the presidency, is recognized as a key ally of United States President Donald Trump.
The Trump administration has previously designated numerous Latin American criminal gangs and armed factions as terrorist organizations, extending such designations to groups operating in Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil, and Colombia.
Colombia, located in northern South America, has endured decades of internal security challenges involving armed insurgencies and transnational drug trafficking cartels. United States backing has long played a central role in Colombian counter-narcotics and security operations.
