U.N. Chief: Create opportunites for ex-FARC rebels

While on a two-day trip to Colombia that marks the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Final Peace Agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), U.N. Sec. Gen. Antonio Guterres emphasized the importance of creating economic opportunity for former members of the rebel group.

Guterres visited the Dept. of Antioquia along with Colombian President Ivan Duque and former FARC-EP Commander Rodrigo Londoño. Antioquia is one of several departments in which former guerillas are being reincorporated into civilian life through various entrepreneurial projects. It was also one of the regions that experienced the highest rates of violence in the midst of the conflict between the Colombian state and FARC. 

"We must redouble efforts to guarantee the sustainability of these projects with financial and technical support... land and housing," Guterres said.

Guterres also warned that more state funding is required in order to ensure the survival of projects for ex-rebels, Reuters reported. 

Although around 13,000 FARC members were demobilized following the signing of the peace agreement, former FARC commanders have since argued that the terms of the agreement have not been kept by the Colombian government, which they say has once again returned to the use of violence.

Since the signing of the 2016 peace deal, former guerrillas have once again taken up arms, claiming the government has failed to guarantee their political rights. 

Nevertheless, the Biden administration has announced that it will remove FARC from the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations, ADN reported. 

"We have started the process of consulting with Congress on actions that we are taking with regards to the FARC," State Department spokesman Ned Price told a daily briefing, adding that there would be more details in the coming days.