I. Introduction: A Country Trapped in Cycles of Violence
Colombia’s modern history is defined by conflict and impunity. Despite peace agreements and reforms, civil conflicts persist across the country, driven by guerrilla dissidents, paramilitary groups, and drug cartels. The failure of the state to deliver justice and accountability perpetuates this violence, leaving ordinary citizens trapped in insecurity. For many Colombians, fleeing abroad becomes the only way to escape these cycles of conflict and impunity.

II. Legacy of Armed Conflicts
Colombia’s civil conflicts date back over half a century, involving guerrilla insurgencies, right-wing paramilitaries, and the state. Although the 2016 peace accord with the FARC marked a milestone, the violence did not end. Dissident groups and new criminal organisations continue to wage war over territory and resources, keeping communities under constant threat.

III. Impunity as a Norm
Impunity remains one of Colombia’s greatest challenges. The vast majority of crimes committed during conflicts—massacres, assassinations, forced disappearances—go unpunished. This lack of accountability emboldens perpetrators, perpetuating violence and eroding citizens’ trust in institutions.

IV. Violence in Rural Areas
Rural populations are particularly vulnerable to civil conflict. Farmers and indigenous communities often live in contested territories where armed groups battle for control of land and illicit economies. Entire villages are displaced, with residents fleeing both violence and the absence of state protection.

V. Urban Insecurity and Criminal Violence
Urban centres also experience the effects of ongoing conflict. Organised crime, extortion, and gang activity spread fear in cities, forcing small business owners and families into desperate situations. Impunity in urban areas mirrors that of rural regions, with little justice for victims.

VI. Targeting of Civil Society and Activists
Civil society leaders, journalists, and human rights defenders are frequent targets of violence. Those who expose corruption, demand land reform, or challenge armed actors are harassed, threatened, or killed. This targeting silences dissent and contributes to forced migration.

VII. Displacement as a Widespread Reality
Colombia has one of the largest populations of internally displaced people in the world. Families are uprooted from ancestral lands and left to survive in impoverished conditions. For many, internal displacement is only the first step, followed by migration abroad in search of true safety.

VIII. The Role of Drug Economies
The illicit drug trade continues to fuel conflict and displacement. Coca cultivation and trafficking routes are heavily contested by armed groups, placing communities in the crossfire. Citizens caught in these struggles often flee to avoid recruitment, extortion, or retaliation.

IX. State Weakness and Corruption
State institutions are too weak or corrupt to provide security or justice. Collusion between officials and armed actors ensures that perpetrators avoid accountability. This governance failure reinforces impunity and leaves citizens unprotected, deepening the push to migrate.

X. International Refugee Flows
Colombians have sought refuge across Latin America, North America, and Europe. Asylum claims often cite persecution by armed groups, threats against activists, or lack of state protection. These flows reflect how systemic impunity pushes Colombians to seek justice and safety abroad.

XI. Diaspora Advocacy
Colombian diaspora communities support exiles by providing networks of solidarity and amplifying human rights concerns. They pressure international institutions to hold Colombia accountable for ongoing impunity and to protect vulnerable groups. This advocacy ensures the struggles of displaced Colombians remain visible globally.

XII. Conclusion: Impunity as a Driver of Exodus
Civil conflicts in Colombia persist because of systemic impunity, weak institutions, and entrenched criminal economies. For ordinary citizens, this reality leaves no space for justice or security. Migration, therefore, becomes both an act of survival and a rejection of a state that fails to protect its people. Until Colombia tackles impunity, citizens will continue to flee in search of peace and justice abroad.