United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is visiting Colombia as the South American nation readies to mark the the fifth anniversary of a fragile peace agreement reached between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The 2016 peace agreement saw about 13,000 FARC fighters lay down their arms and pledge to adopt a civilian life.
Guterres tweeted, "Every day, they renew their commitment to building a country in peace and addressing remaining challenges. They know that peace doesn't come from one day to the other. It takes effort to build and maintain."
Despite the agreement, violence continues in several parts of Colombia where FARC dissidents who rejected the peace deal still hold weapons, and where other armed groups and drug traffickers operate. Nearly 300 former FARC members have also been killed across the country since the agreement was signed.
Meanwhile, United States President Joe Biden's administration is preparing to remove the FARC from its list of foreign terrorist organizations. This move could free up US aid to projects that involve former FARC members.
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