The Security Council today unanimously adopted resolution 2833 (2026) (to be issued as document S/RES/2833(2026) ), extending the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia until 31 October 2027, focusing on its primary function to support verification and monitoring of implementation of the Final Agreement pertaining to resolution 2366 (2017).
Colombia's conflict, rooted in political exclusion and land inequality, lasted more than five decades and involved guerrilla, paramilitary and criminal groups that killed and displaced millions. The 2016 Final Peace Agreement between the Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP) ended the largest insurgency and established commitments on disarmament and reintegration, rural reform, political participation and transitional justice. The Verification Mission was created that year to monitor implementation of the accord.
As implementation enters its final five years, Colombia - under the new Administration of President Abelardo Gabriel de la Espriella, who assumed office on 7 August - has proposed refocusing the Mission on reintegration and security guarantees, while scaling back attention to rural reform, which it argues falls primarily within national responsibilities and beyond the Mission's core mandate.
Without Security, 'Peace Is Nothing But an Idea'
Thanking Council delegates for agreeing to adjustments to the UN Mission's mandate, Colombia's representative averred that "without security, peace is nothing but an idea. Without justice, without reparation, peace becomes impunity," he said, adding that, "when the perpetrators of crimes against humanity become the main beneficiaries of that peace, peace itself becomes the instrument of conflict".
Noting that the presence of the UN is as important as the Government, he said Colombia is not enjoying the benefits of a peace process, but fighting "some of its consequences", such as "empowered" drug cartels, guerrillas and criminal organizations, as well as corruption and forced displacement, he said, alongside the devastating aftermath of a 7.4-magnitude earthquake.
The Government and millions of citizens who elected it are not against peace. "We are against impunity," and against "using 'peace' as a political shield for crimes against humanity and human rights atrocities", he said. Criminal organizations, old and new, have gained power and trampled the basic rights and dignity of working people - with Colombia going from having 20,420 members in illegal armed groups in 2016, when the Agreement was signed, to 29,004 in 2026, an increase of nearly 42 per cent in 10 years.
True peace is achieved with justice, the State's presence and the territorial development of regions, including the most remote ones, he said. Recognizing the support of the international community and the Council, he hailed the vote as "a strong and indubitable message: a Verification Mission that is focused, effective, efficient and aligned with the reality experienced by millions of Colombians".
Hailing Colombia's Ownership of Rural Reform
"A year ago, we would not support this Mission's mandate," said the United States representative, as its tasks "were unachievable". However, that has changed as, under President Abelardo de la Espriella, "Colombia has governed with focus and intention", she affirmed. On its own initiative, Colombia asked the Security Council to narrow this Mission's scope back to its core function: verifying reintegration and security guarantees.
"We supported that request and we are pleased to see it reflected in this text," she stated. Colombia made clear it is ready to carry rural reform forward as its own national responsibility and "that is exactly the kind of ownership this Council should want to see from every host Government - not endless mandates, but Government stepping up and taking the lead". UN field missions "need to focus on core peace and security objectives and get out of the business of doing everything for everyone. This resolution has done that," she stressed.
"The reduced mandate of the Mission should not be considered as the UN stepping back," said Denmark's delegate. Rather, she added: "Today's unanimous renewal reaffirms the Security Council and international community's confidence in Colombia's peace process and the verification mission's adaptability to supporting the agreement."
A number of delegates welcomed Colombia's commitment to rural reform, with Panama's delegate recognizing the value of international verification of that reform, celebrating the consensus reached to adjust the Missions mandate, while trusting "that these adjustments will not lead to a reduction in the territorial presence of the Mission" - because its presence on the ground at the regional, subregional and local levels constitute one of its main strengths. Recognizing progress, as a neighbouring and fraternal country, Panama "reiterates its readiness to continue supporting Colombia" and the UN with hope that progress achieved will build a lasting peace.
Delegates including the representatives of Bahrain and Pakistan echoed the importance of national ownership of the peace process, with the latter noting that the Mission's valuable work and stressed the need for a Colombian-led effort.
Moscow Voices Regret That Rural-Reform Mandate Dropped
Stressing the importance of the reintegration of former insurgents, the Russian Federation's delegate voiced regret over removal of the rural-reform mandate. Latvia's representative encouraged Colombia to sustain its efforts to address long-standing inequalities in rural areas, a structural factor contributing to violence by illegal armed groups. Persistent challenges include ongoing sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls, disproportionate levels of violence affecting Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities, and the alarming recruitment of children by illegal armed groups in conflict-affected areas of Colombia.
China's delegate voiced hope that the Government will unite all sectors of society, affirming that "security and development should go hand in hand". Fully supporting a strengthened State presence in remote and underdeveloped areas, he said the role of verification mission "should be fully leveraged".
Hailing the unanimous adoption, the representative of the United Kingdom, author of the draft resolution, noted "protecting the gains of the agreement and addressing today's security challenges are not competing objectives - they are mutually reinforcing and are essential not only for Colombia's future, but also for stability and peace throughout the region". Recognizing the significant achievements of the Peace Agreement, she noted more than 11,000 former combatants remain demobilized. While violence and evolving conflict dynamics continue to threaten communities and illicit economies fuel violence, the Agreement remains central to tackling those factors. Similarly, France's delegate stressed that the Peace Agreement addresses both economic and social issues, and is the appropriate response to challenges
Liberia's representative, also speaking for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia, stressed: While "signing an agreement changes the promise of a country", "implementing it changes the lives of its people".
