On 5 May, President Petro approved Decree 488-2025, redefining the role of Indigenous communities in administering and making decisions about their territories. The decree formalizes Indigenous Territorial Entities (ETIs), a political-administrative division established in Colombia’s 1991 Constitution but long unregulated and ineffective. It allows communities to request the Ministry of the Interior to delimit and recognize their territories as ETIs, transferring key administrative and political rights. They will be able to veto infrastructure or extractive projects or activities based on a ‘cultural objection’ when authorities judge a threat to territorial, cultural or spiritual rights. ETIs will also gain access to public funds—such as royalties and General System of Participations transfers—allowing for autonomous budget management. Indigenous communities have welcomed the decree, and experts praised it as a historic victory for Colombia’s Indigenous peoples and a major step toward self-determination.

Sources: AP News, El Pais, Mongabay, Función Pública Colombia

On 5 April, the armed group known as Comuneros del Sur—a dissident faction that split from the National Liberation Army (ELN) in 2024—began the process of laying down arms as a first step toward demobilization. Nearly 600 units of explosive material were handed over to the National Army, which destroyed them. Although the group is small, the beginning of disarmament is seen as key for the peace efforts in the Nariño region, which has been deeply affected by the armed conflict. The event marks an initial step in a longer process, with further agreements still needed—particularly regarding legal mechanisms to ensure victims' rights to truth and justice. During a meeting with representatives of Comuneros del Sur, President Petro announced investments in the region to support the peace process, including improvements in access to basic services, the beginning of demining operations, and the creation of a unit—partly made up of ex-combatants—to help locate victims of forced disappearance.

Sources: Insight Crime, La Silla Vacia, El espectador, El Pais

On 14 February, Colombia approved its first National Care Policy aimed at enhancing the state's capacity to address the care needs of its population including through providing care to caregivers. The policy seeks to address economic inequality experienced by those who perform unpaid caregiving tasks (according to official data, 90 per cent of caregivers are women). Among its objectives, the plan aims to recognize and protect community care practices, particularly for marginalized groups, improve the quality of life for caregivers, and challenge cultural factors that perpetuate care inequality. The policy provides a framework for establishing a care system that redistributes the caregiving load across the state, civil society, and the private sector. It outlines 133 actions that the Colombian government must implement in the coming 10 years. These actions include expanding labour rights for domestic workers, providing training for caregivers, and supporting single mothers.

Sources: Ministerio de Igualdad y Equidad, El País, Razón Pública

Throughout January, a series of clashes in Catatumbo between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and a dissident faction of the dissolved Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have resulted in the deaths of over 50 people, including community leaders, civilians and demobilized FARC rebels, and to the displacement of over 50,000 people. The confrontation was fueled by territorial disputes over drug trafficking routes in an area that is key to cocaine production. The events have been described as one of the country’s most dramatic humanitarian crises in contemporary history. President Petro announced an “internal state of commotion” that grants him special powers to address the causes of the crisis and contain its effects. He also suspended peace negotiations with the ELN.
The events have underscored shortcomings in the implementation of the 2016 peace accords and in the country’s ability to protect peace signatories. They have also highlighted the fragility of the ongoing peace talks, now at their most precarious moment.

Sources: Bogota Post, North American Congress on Latin America, Insight Crime, New York Times, El Pais, Razon Publica