Colombia - November 2025

In November, Colombia faced intense scrutiny over military airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of at least 12 minors forcibly recruited by armed groups. These operations, targeting dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), have reignited debates about human rights abuses in the country. President Gustavo Petro, who initially suspended airstrikes upon taking office in 2022 to avoid civilian casualties, reinstated them last year amid escalating violence. The deaths of children in these strikes have drawn criticism from human rights advocates and opposition lawmakers, who argue that such actions violate international humanitarian law. The government defends the strikes as necessary to combat illegal armed groups, blaming these groups for using children as human shields. However, critics highlight the lack of effective intelligence and the failure to address systemic issues like forced recruitment. 

Sources: El País, AP News, Reuters, Le Monde, Al Jazeera 

On 25 November, the Superior Tribunal of Antioquia sentenced Santiago Uribe, brother of former President Álvaro Uribe (2002 - 2010), to 28 years in prison for crimes against humanity, aggravated homicide, and conspiracy to commit a crime. The court found Santiago Uribe guilty of leading the paramilitary group ‘The 12 Apostles’, which operated in the 1990s and was responsible for systematic killings and other human rights abuses. According to the ruling, the group carried out ‘social cleansing’, targeting individuals deemed undesirable, with documented collusion from state security forces. This landmark ruling marks an important step to ensuring accountability in the context of allegations of state-paramilitary collusion. Human rights organizations have commended the decision as a step forward for victims and an important effort to curtail the influence of paramilitary groups within Colombian society.

Sources: El País, InfoBae, Al Jazeera