Members of Congress for the Centro Democrático, one of whom is currently being investigated for suspected witness tampering, have filed an initiative to limit the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), Truth Commission, and the Missing Persons Search Unit’s access to reserved military information, with the argument that it would put national security at risk.¹ In response, the director of the Truth Commission, Father Francisco de Roux, denounced the motion for violating victims’ right to the truth and for its opposition to decisions made by the Constitutional Court and the Commission’s founding Decree.²

On 18 October, the JEP issued the Attorney General’s Office and the GOC with limit of three days to provide information on FARC assets seized, being investigated, or delivered for victims’ reparation during their demobilization in 2017. The Attorney General, however, has repeatedly refused to deliver detailed information.³

The High Commissioner for Stabilization (formerly Post-Conflict), Emilio Archila, delivered an outline of his plan for the implementation of the Peace Accord with the FARC this week. The plan includes a reorganization and centralization of the High Commission’s powers and functions, giving Archila greater control over its processes, bringing more entities under his jurisdiction (including the Agencies for Territorial Renovation, Rural Development, and Land), and allowing him to lead the administration of international funds, and security for former FARC combatants.⁴ The Duque administration’s stabilization plan suggests that, in a violent context where the State has limited effective presence, the priority is to restore security and create conditions for economic and social reconstruction.⁵

Two months after taking office, President Iván Duque reiterated his willingness to negotiate with the ELN, but also continues to demand that the guerrilla group release all hostages and cease violent actions before peace talks, which have been suspended since the completion of their Sixth Round on 1 August, can resume.⁶ Pablo Beltrán, the ELN’s chief negotiator, has reiterated the guerrilla group’s willingness to discuss any issue, but insists that this should be done at the negotiating table in Havana. He also warned of intensifying GOC operations against the group, which he saw as an attempt to weaken their negotiating position.⁷

The head of the Clan del Golfo, José Abel Bustamente Duarte, better known as alias “Mordisco,” was killed during a military operation on 17 October. The Clan is potentially the largest and most powerful illegal armed group in Colombia today, controlling 45% of drug exportations, dozens of illegal gold mines, and extorsions in urban areas. Following his death, and that of other leaders, the group has maintained its organizational force, expanding its territorial control and that of the illegal drug trade, but many may wish to disarm under the Submission to Justice Law created for them in July this year.⁸