Today, the General Secretariat of the OAS presented to the Permanent Council of the Organization the Report on the activities of the Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia of the Organization of American States (MAPP/OAS) during the second half of 2025, warning of security risks in the pre-electoral context, calling for the fulfillment of peace commitments as a means of de-escalating violence, and issuing 14 recommendations to entities of the national government.
"After more than 22 years of continuous presence and the submission of 40 reports to the Permanent Council, the MAPP/OAS has demonstrated institutional consistency across changing contexts. Its participation in all ongoing peace initiatives -and in several cases, as the only international organization involved- confirms its relevance as a credible, flexible, and reliable actor contributing to peace processes with varying paces, scopes, and levels of complexity," stated Roberto Menéndez, Chief of Mission, during the presentation.
During the reporting period, the Mission observed progress in the Peace Dialogue Tables and Socio-Legal Conversation Spaces, particularly in the signing of agreements on territorial transformations, reduction of violence, protection of community rights, and the management of Temporary Location Zones (ZUT by its Spanish acronym) for the transition to civilian life of members of various armed groups. Likewise, it identified challenges in monitoring and verifying commitments, inter-institutional coordination, and defining of a legal framework for the transition to legality of members of armed groups, underscoring the need to strengthen community participation with guarantees of autonomous and safe representation.
With regard to the pre-electoral cycle, the Mission urged armed groups to refrain from interfering in the exercise of the population's political rights and freedoms, acknowledged the efforts of Colombian institutions to ensure a secure environment during the first round of the presidential elections held last Sunday, and invited presidential candidates to "ensure compliance with the Commitment to a Free and Peaceful Electoral Process," stated the Chief of Mission.
The Report documented the increased use of drones and explosive devices by armed groups for surveillance and attacks against the public force and other armed groups, which has generated new risks for the population due to the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in homes, roads, and educational institutions. The Mission also noted the persistence of the recruitment of children and adolescents, as well as cases of sexual violence and exploitation.
In response to humanitarian challenges and situations of mass victimization, the MAPP/OAS supported actions to facilitate emergency response and strengthen institutional coordination, contributed to the release of 54 kidnapped persons, and the recovery of 16 bodies.
Regarding the Final Peace Agreement, the Chief of the MAPP/OAS explained that "nearly ten years after the signing of the Final Peace Agreement between Colombia and the now-defunct FARC-EP, it is essential to assess the progress achieved, identify outstanding gaps, and strengthen implementation capacities."
The General Secretariat of the OAS reiterated its willingness to continue supporting communities and the Colombian State, through the MAPP/OAS, in addressing current challenges and contributing to future efforts toward a comprehensive peace in Colombia.
