Negotiations launched between Colombian government and rebels with Switzerland serving as guarantor state
Bern, 17.10.2023 - The FDFA welcomes the peace negotiations launched yesterday between the Colombian government and rebel group Estado Mayor Central de las FARC-EP (EMC). As part of its long-standing peace policy work in Colombia, Switzerland has, at the parties' request, taken on an official mandate to serve as guarantor of the negotiations. The mandate is a sign of appreciation for Switzerland's commitment to peace and its diplomatic efforts.
The Colombian government and the EMC officially launched the negotiation process yesterday in Tibú, Norte de Santander. The event was attended by many representatives from Colombian society and the international community. The EMC has its origins in the 2016 peace agreement, which was not signed by a faction of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army (FARC–EP).
At the launch, the parties signed a ceasefire agreement, which took effect immediately. The temporary three-month ceasefire should help improve the humanitarian situation in regions where the EMC is present.
Together with other countries, including Ireland, Norway and Venezuela, Switzerland will act as guarantor state in the peace negotiations, building on its previous efforts in support of the Colombian peace process. It will be present at the negotiations and lend political and technical support to the process.
The goal of the Colombian government, in the context of its peace policy, is to include as many armed groups as possible in a comprehensive peace agreement. Switzerland fully supports the implementation of the 2016 FARC-EP peace agreement, for which it is also advocating on the UN Security Council. Since November 2022, Switzerland has also been a member of the peace process advisory group with the National Liberation Army of Colombia (Ejército de Liberación Nacional). When requested to do so, it advises the parties on issues such as compliance with the ceasefire, community participation and the protection of civilians. The FDFA's Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD) is taking the lead in Switzerland's support for the peace process.
Peace process following decades-long armed conflict
Colombia has been mired in armed conflict for decades. The death toll is estimated at over 200,000, and almost 80% of those killed have been civilians. Eight million people have been displaced as a result of the violence. In 2016, the Colombian government and the FARC-EP entered into a peace agreement. Since then, however, armed hostilities with other armed groups have escalated in some regions, which has made it difficult to implement the agreement and, in particular, develop rural areas affected by the violence.
Colombia is a priority country for the PHRD, which is committed to promoting peace there. It supports reconciliation processes by providing technical expertise in areas such as civil society participation, ceasefires and dealing with the past. Alongside its efforts to ensure implementation of the 2016 peace agreement and to support reconciliation and negotiation processes involving armed groups, Switzerland is also helping to mitigate the impact of the conflict, for example by taking humanitarian measures, engaging in humanitarian demining and providing support for rural development. Furthermore, at the request of the Colombian government and the FARC-EP, Switzerland is retaining the original copy of the final 2016 agreement and a digital backup of the archives of the Colombian Truth Commission.
Through its commitment to peace and security, as demonstrated by Switzerland's support for the Colombian peace process, the federal government is implementing one of the thematic focus areas set out in the Federal Council's Foreign Policy Strategy 2020–23.
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