Armed Conflicts and Cartel Violence Push Colombians Abroad

Colombia has experienced over six decades of armed conflict involving guerrilla organisations, paramilitary successors, and criminal groups. Despite the 2016 FARC peace agreement, violence persists across rural regions, driving internal displacement and international migration. This report examines the political system, armed group dynamics, displacement patterns, and implications for international protection claims involving Colombian nationals.

Political System and Governance Structure

Colombia operates under a presidential democratic system in which executive authority is exercised by the president and national government, while legislative authority is vested in a bicameral Congress. Elections are regularly held, and political power has alternated between different political coalitions. Despite these democratic institutions, international monitoring organisations identify structural weaknesses. According to Freedom House, Colombia is classified as Partly Free, reflecting the coexistence of democratic institutions with persistent security challenges and governance limitations.[3]

Corruption remains a concern in parts of the political system. Illicit economies, including drug trafficking and illegal mining, have influenced local political structures in certain regions, weakening public trust in institutions and complicating law enforcement efforts. The administration of President Gustavo Petro has attempted to address these challenges through a Total Peace policy, seeking negotiated settlements with multiple armed groups simultaneously. However, analysts report that the policy has produced mixed results and has not yet significantly reduced violence against civilians.[1]

Repression and Human Rights Violations

Human rights organisations continue to document serious abuses affecting civilians in conflict-affected areas of Colombia. Violence is frequently linked to territorial disputes between armed groups competing for control over drug trafficking routes, mining sites, and agricultural land. Civilians become targets of intimidation, forced recruitment, and violent reprisals. Armed groups have been accused of committing killings, forced displacement, extortion, and threats. Community members who refuse to cooperate with these groups may face retaliation.[1]

Targeted Groups and Risk Profiles

Several groups face elevated levels of risk in Colombia due to the country's ongoing security challenges. Human rights defenders frequently advocate for land rights, environmental protection, indigenous autonomy, and social justice. Their activities can challenge the interests of armed groups and criminal networks operating in rural regions. Former FARC members who demobilised under the 2016 peace agreement also face significant threats from dissident factions. Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities often live in remote territories rich in natural resources, making them vulnerable to armed group activity linked to illegal mining, coca cultivation, and drug trafficking.[2][5]

Armed Groups and Criminal Economies

Illegal economies play a central role in sustaining armed groups in Colombia. Drug trafficking remains the most significant source of funding. Colombia is the world's largest producer of cocaine, and coca cultivation has expanded in several regions in recent years. Illegal mining has emerged as another important economic activity linked to armed groups, generating significant profits while causing severe environmental damage.[1]

Internal Displacement Crisis

Colombia has one of the largest internally displaced populations in the world. According to humanitarian monitoring organisations, approximately seven million people have been displaced within the country as a result of armed conflict and violence. Large-scale displacement events have continued even after the 2016 peace agreement. Displacement often occurs when armed groups move into a territory or when fighting breaks out between rival organisations. Civilians may flee to avoid recruitment, retaliation, or forced cooperation with armed actors. Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities are disproportionately affected, as many live in territories where armed groups seek control over natural resources or strategic transportation routes.[4][5]

Migration and Asylum Relevance

Violence and insecurity have contributed to migration from Colombia, although economic factors also play a role. Many Colombians migrate to neighbouring Latin American countries or to North America and Europe in search of employment opportunities and greater security. Spain has historically been one of the primary European destinations due to linguistic and cultural connections. In recent years, Colombians have increasingly appeared among asylum applicants in Europe. However, recognition rates remain relatively low in many countries because Colombia is generally considered a democratic state with functioning institutions.[3]

What Individuals at Risk Can Do

Individuals who believe they face threats from armed groups or criminal organisations should preserve documentation related to their situation, including police reports, written threats, records of displacement, photographs or videos of incidents, statements from witnesses or community organisations, medical reports and communications with authorities, and accurate records of events including dates and locations.

Organisations Providing Information and Monitoring

Analytical Assessment

Although Colombia maintains democratic institutions and competitive elections, the state does not exercise effective authority in all regions of the country. Armed groups continue to operate in many rural territories, limiting the ability of authorities to guarantee security and fundamental rights. The coexistence of formal democracy with de facto armed group control in significant portions of the territory creates a protection gap that is directly relevant to international protection claims: the state may be willing to protect but is demonstrably unable to do so in the regions where the most serious threats originate.

Violence linked to drug trafficking, illegal mining, and territorial disputes continues to generate serious human rights concerns. Social leaders, activists, indigenous communities, and former combatants remain among the groups most exposed to risk. The documented pattern of targeted killings of community leaders, combined with the limited accountability for these crimes, establishes both a persecution nexus and a failure of state protection that meets the threshold for international protection under the 1951 Convention and the EU Qualification Directive.

These dynamics contribute to migration patterns. While economic opportunities remain an important driver of migration, insecurity and violence in certain regions of Colombia also encourage some individuals to seek protection abroad. International monitoring organisations consistently emphasise that the Colombian peace process remains incomplete. Without stronger state presence in rural areas, improved protection for community leaders, and sustained efforts to reduce the influence of armed groups, the country is likely to continue facing both internal displacement and outward migration.[1][5]