The presidential election in Colombia has led to the win of De la Espriella. As per the reports from multiple sources including the BBC and CNN, right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the Defenders of the Homeland who has won the 2026 election with a marginal vote difference over left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda of Alternative Democratic Pole party, a close ally of President Gustavo Petro, is going to be sworn in as the President soon. But there are various post-election public expectations and challenges to the government. And — more importantly — how much the expectations and challenges will be addressed by the De la Espriella, who was endorsed in the elections by Donald Trump, administration remains uncertain.
There are conflict-based and other challenges in Colombia. Armed conflicts, killings, extortion and political divides are some vital challenges, despite the Gustavo administration’s ‘Total Peace’ initiative. Armed conflicts involving the government forces and several armed groups have been reduced in some areas. But armed conflicts have increased in some other areas especially remote, peripheral and rural areas over drug trafficking and the control of trafficking route in different regions, increasingly restricting civilian movements and causing mass displacements. The Gustavo government’s promise on ending armed conflicts have led to ceasefires and disarmament of rebels, including the National Coordinating Committee of the Bolivarian Army in 2026 as per its total peace policy but it failed to bring the desired outcomes in ending conflicts.
There are many other challenges to Colombia such as economic and political. Poverty rate is approximately 31.8 percent, while extreme poverty affects roughly 12 percent. Systemic issues like poverty especially in rural areas still remain high and somewhat increased — though there were some successful initiatives of the Gustavo administration including export diversification and it significantly reduced during 2022-2226 — due to massive forced displacement, asset and land loss and the destruction of local economies. Moreover, Colombia has encountered extreme political polarization, cross-border cooperation especially with Ecuador has reduced over the years and there is a rise in human rights abuses in certain areas such as targeted attacks on human rights activists and forced confinement.
Hopefully saying, the president-elect has made campaign promises for addressing armed conflicts such as military crackdown on illegal armed groups, drug trafficking and soaring crime. But how much it is possible to address these remains uncertain especially with crackdown measures. The use of mere force has not ended armed conflicts previously. It helped continue conflicts over the decades. It is rather negotiations that reduced the number of armed groups and dissolved the FARC, once the most dangerous and powerful group in Colombia. Moreover, there are various challenges such as political and bureaucratic hurdles to making successful measures that have not only hindered addressing armed conflicts but also stifled economic development.
Organized crime syndicates including FARC dissidents and the ELN, drug cartels, and residual armed groups frequently co-opt local state institutions, police and municipal officials to protect their lucrative illicit economies such as cocaine production and illegal mining. To manage government officials, secure support from them at the expected level, and end armed conflicts and drug trafficking, was not only difficult for Gustavo with the ‘Total Peace‘ policy but also can be difficult for the political outsider, the president-elect. Moreover, there are legislative challenges that can make efforts difficult in addressing the concerns. Pertinently saying, legislative gridlock prevented taking measures for economic improvement.
It is vital to address the post-election concerns and challenges. Ending armed conflicts will help address many of the problems Colombia has been encountering over the decades and help the government spend more on other sectors. But talks need to be given emphasis in ending armed conflicts — though the armed forces need to be engaged to prevent armed attacks of non-state groups and bring stability. Making peace deals and dismantling armed groups including the ELN with integration opportunities need to be given emphasis. For this, the reasons for the failure of the Gustavo administration need to be addressed.
Improved cross-border cooperation will help address drug trafficking and many other crimes. But generating political support and addressing bureaucratic hurdles will facilitate government initiatives. Moreover, addressing poverty and other concerns is vital. Given that the intersection of violence and poverty disproportionately affects remote and peripheral regions and locks vulnerable communities into cycles of underdevelopment, the De la Espriella administration needs to put emphasis on reducing poverty in rural areas too, along with urban areas. The violation of rights needs to be addressed.
