Colombia: Colombia’s Rebel Reintegration Quagmire

Feb 1, 2015 | Global Politics
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Colombia has endured more than five decades of civil discord. Peace negotiations between FARC representatives and the Colombian State have, though, been ongoing since 2012 as the country attempts to realise a future of security and peace. Yet it is the massive human toll that is perhaps the most potent issue to arise from this conflict. Reports estimate that it has claimed the lives of over 200,000 people, most of whom were civilians. More than 5.7 million refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the 6.2 million registered victims also reflect the volatile effects of violence.

If Colombia is to cultivate a stable and progressive post-conflict landscape, it is paramount that the remaining rebels and fighters are accommodated. Approximately 19,000 individuals – both fringe members and active combatants of rebel organisations such as FARC and the National Liberation Army (ELN) – are being encouraged to participate in the rehabilitation process. Will these initiatives be able to both lessen the human impact of decades of conflict and, ultimately, be able to effectively reintegrate the thousands affected?