Bogota: In a landmark development in Colombia’s long struggle against armed violence, the government has signaled that any peace agreement with the Clan del Golfo the nation’s most powerful criminal organization will require the group’s top commanders to serve prison sentences. This firm stance marks a clear break from past practices and reflects Bogotá’s commitment to balancing justice with efforts to end decades of conflict.
Alvaro Jiménez, the Colombian government’s chief negotiator, told Reuters that incarceration for senior leaders of the Clan is non-negotiable in the talks currently underway in Doha, Qatar. While the precise duration and conditions of imprisonment will be decided by Colombia’s judiciary or through transitional justice frameworks, the basic premise that the cohort of leaders will not escape detention has been emphatically confirmed. The government had initially considered alternative sentencing, but the discussions have firmly shifted to custodial punishment as a foundational element of any pact.
The Clan del Golfo, now also identifying itself as the Gaitanist Army of Colombia (EGC), is entrenched across roughly 130 municipalities in northern Colombia and is heavily involved in drug trafficking and other illicit activities. The peace talks aim to facilitate the demobilization and disarmament of approximately 9,000 fighters and carve out a pathway for the group’s transition away from violence. Jiménez, a former guerrilla himself, has been at the forefront of negotiations that both sides hope will be irreversible before Colombia’s presidential term ends in August 2026.
Although there is no formal ceasefire yet in place, authorities have agreed to suspend outstanding arrest and extradition warrants for the Clan’s top figures as talks progress. Additionally, the parties reached an initial agreement to establish three designated zones where fighters will begin gathering from March 1 as part of the demobilization process. These mechanisms are intended to build trust and create conditions conducive to lasting peace, even as violence continues in some regions.
The approach adopted by the Colombian government differs significantly from earlier peace accords with groups such as the FARC guerrillas and right-wing paramilitaries, which often offered lenient terms or reduced sentences in exchange for demobilization and cooperation. Instead, Bogotá is emphasizing greater accountability for serious crimes, including massacres, disappearances and human rights violations, while seeking to integrate former combatants back into society.
Beyond incarceration and demobilization, the government plans to expand the state’s presence in former Clan strongholds through enhanced social investment programs. These include initiatives to support coca crop substitution, provide alternative livelihoods for rural communities, and prevent other criminal networks from filling the vacuum left by a demobilized EGC.
International mediation has played a pivotal role in advancing the dialogue. Qatar, Spain, Norway and Switzerland are acting as facilitators, and Colombia has invited the United States and United Kingdom to participate in the process despite recent diplomatic tensions over anti-narcotics policy. The involvement of global partners is viewed as a way to lend legitimacy and broader support to the peace process.
As negotiations continue, observers note both the high aspirations and the inherent challenges of such an ambitious initiative. While Colombian leaders and the international community watch closely, the coming months are likely to prove decisive in determining whether this approach can truly transform one of Latin America’s oldest conflicts into a sustainable peace.