territorial departments, districts and municipalities should also be discussed and approved. In its statement, the Ministry of Finance clarified that its opinions issued so far in respect of the GPS Reform Bill have been based on the drafts approved in the previous debates, which are subject to change and which did not define clearly how the new framework provided in the GPS Reform Bill, if approved, would interact with the current framework of territorial governmental functions.
Guerrilla Activity
On October 15, 2024, the Government presented to the United Nations Security Council the “Shock plan to accelerate the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement”, which was signed in 2016 with the former FARC guerrilla group. This plan seeks to ensure a quick and effective progress in implementing the peace agreement in the territories most affected by the armed conflict. The plan focuses on concrete and high-impact initiatives in areas such as a comprehensive rural reform, development programs with a territorial focus and territorial security.
On October 16, 2024, the Government issued Decree No. 1280 of October 15, 2024, which extends the ceasefire with certain FARC dissident groups for an additional six-month period. The decree emphasizes that actions carried out by the armed forces and police against illegal economic activities will not be suspended.
Criminal Activity
As of and for the eight-month period ended August 31, 2024, 157 kidnapping incidents were reported, reflecting a 31% decrease from the 226 incidents reported during the same period in 2023. For the eight-month period ended August 31, 2024, 116 terrorism incidents were reported, reflecting a 26% decrease from the 157 terrorism incidents reported in the same period in 2023.
Corruption Investigations
On July 4, 2024, the Prosecutor General’s Office accused Natalia Isaza Velásquez of money laundering for allegedly having received Ps.59 million related to a fraudulent invoice for unperformed topological and geological activities related to the design of the second bridge between Plato (Magdalena) – Zambrano (Bolívar) under the Ruta del Sol III concession contract.
On September 5, 2024, the Prosecutor General’s Office initiated investigations to identify those responsible for the potentially illegal acquisition and use of “Pegasus” spyware by the Police Intelligence Bureau of the National Police. This purchase, allegedly made in mid-2021 from the Israeli firm NSO Group, is under scrutiny for its potential role in alleged illegal interceptions and monitoring of judges and employees of Colombia’s highest courts.
On September 10, 2024, the Attorney General’s Office launched a preliminary investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the acquisition and operation of the intelligence software “Pegasus.” The Attorney General’s Office will collect evidence about the contracting process, the funds used for the purchase of the software and information about the operation of the software.
On October 16, 2024, the Attorney General’s Office filed charges against Sneyder Pinilla Álvarez, the former deputy director of Disaster Management of the Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (UNGRD) from 2023 to 2024, for undue participation in politics. According to the investigators, the former deputy director used his position and image to support the electoral campaign of Darío Buchenicow Caballero, who was a candidate for mayor of the municipality of Sabana de Torres (Santander) for the 2024-2027 term.
Foreign Affairs
On October 9, 2024, Colombia was elected as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, securing one of the 47 seats of the multilateral body.