Changes

===Peace agreement with FARC===

===Peace agreement with FARC===

The Colombian government approved a peace accord with the [[Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia]] (FARC) in 2016.<ref>Karl, Robert (October 1, 2016). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/10/01/heres-the-century-long-history-behind-colombias-peace-agreement-with-the-farc/ Here’s the century-long history behind Colombia’s peace agreement with the FARC]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved October 1, 2016.</ref> However, voters narrowly rejected the peace deal in a referendum, as there were worries that the deal was far too lenient towards the FARC.<ref>Murphy, Helen & Cobb, Julia Symmes (October 3, 2016). [http://www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-peace-idUSKCN1230BH Colombia's peace deal in limbo after shock referendum]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved October 4, 2016.</ref> In November 2016, the Colombian government approved a revised treaty with FARC, changed to address some, but not all, of the concerns of conservatives.<ref name="Skipping">Casey, Nicholas (November 24, 2016). [http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/24/world/americas/colombia-juan-manuel-santos-peace-deal-farc.html?_r=0 Colombia and FARC Sign New Peace Deal, This Time Skipping Voters]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved November 26, 2016.</ref> This time, the treaty was not brought before the voters, but rather the Colombian Congress.<ref name="Skipping"/> It was reported in April 2017 that FARC continued to possess weapons despite the deal that was made.<ref>Arostegui, Martin (April 20, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/04/20/colombias-farc-concealing-weapons-despite-deal-intelligence-analysts-say.html Colombia's FARC concealing weapons despite deal, intelligence analysts say]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 20, 2017.</ref> It was reported in mid-May that FARC members continued to engage in violence and kidnappings.<ref>Martel, Frances (May 15, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/05/15/colombia-farc-terrorists-continue-abductions-violence-as-peace-deal-kicks-in/ Colombia: FARC Terrorists Abduct Ranchers, UN Employee as Peace Deal Kicks In]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 16, 2017.</ref> FARC continued to exist, but at a political party.<ref>Bocanegra, Nelson; Cobb, Julia Symmes (August 27, 2017). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-peace-politics/after-decades-of-war-colombias-farc-rebels-debut-political-party-idUSKCN1B705U After decades of war, Colombia's FARC rebels debut political party]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved December 25, 2017.</ref> By April 2018, the peace agreement was failing, and violence and cocaine production had sharply risen.<ref>Arostegui, Martin (May 3, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/may/3/farc-violence-cocaine-production-spike-colombia-th/ Cracks in the FARC peace deal: Violence, cocaine production surge in Colombia]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved May 4, 2018.</ref>

The Colombian government approved a peace accord with the [[Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia]] (FARC) in 2016.<ref>Karl, Robert (October 1, 2016). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/10/01/heres-the-century-long-history-behind-colombias-peace-agreement-with-the-farc/ Here’s the century-long history behind Colombia’s peace agreement with the FARC]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved October 1, 2016.</ref> However, voters narrowly rejected the peace deal in a referendum, as there were worries that the deal was far too lenient towards the FARC.<ref>Murphy, Helen & Cobb, Julia Symmes (October 3, 2016). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-peace-idUSKCN1230BH Colombia's peace deal in limbo after shock referendum]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved October 4, 2016.</ref> In November 2016, the Colombian government approved a revised treaty with FARC, changed to address some, but not all, of the concerns of conservatives.<ref name="Skipping">Casey, Nicholas (November 24, 2016). [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/24/world/americas/colombia-juan-manuel-santos-peace-deal-farc.html?_r=0 Colombia and FARC Sign New Peace Deal, This Time Skipping Voters]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved November 26, 2016.</ref> This time, the treaty was not brought before the voters, but rather the Colombian Congress.<ref name="Skipping"/> It was reported in April 2017 that FARC continued to possess weapons despite the deal that was made.<ref>Arostegui, Martin (April 20, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/04/20/colombias-farc-concealing-weapons-despite-deal-intelligence-analysts-say.html Colombia's FARC concealing weapons despite deal, intelligence analysts say]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 20, 2017.</ref> It was reported in mid-May that FARC members continued to engage in violence and kidnappings.<ref>Martel, Frances (May 15, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/05/15/colombia-farc-terrorists-continue-abductions-violence-as-peace-deal-kicks-in/ Colombia: FARC Terrorists Abduct Ranchers, UN Employee as Peace Deal Kicks In]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 16, 2017.</ref> FARC continued to exist, but at a political party.<ref>Bocanegra, Nelson; Cobb, Julia Symmes (August 27, 2017). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-peace-politics/after-decades-of-war-colombias-farc-rebels-debut-political-party-idUSKCN1B705U After decades of war, Colombia's FARC rebels debut political party]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved December 25, 2017.</ref> By April 2018, the peace agreement was failing, and violence and cocaine production had sharply risen.<ref>Arostegui, Martin (May 3, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/may/3/farc-violence-cocaine-production-spike-colombia-th/ Cracks in the FARC peace deal: Violence, cocaine production surge in Colombia]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved May 4, 2018.</ref>

On September 4, 2017, Colombia signed a ceasefire deal with its last remaining guerrilla organization, the [[National Liberation Army (Colombia)|National Liberation Army]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/09/04/colombia-signs-cease-fire-deal-with-last-guerrilla-group.html Colombia signs cease-fire deal with last guerrilla group]. ''Fox News'' (from the ''Associated Press''). Retrieved September 4, 2017.</ref>

On September 4, 2017, Colombia signed a ceasefire deal with its last remaining guerrilla organization, the [[National Liberation Army (Colombia)|National Liberation Army]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/09/04/colombia-signs-cease-fire-deal-with-last-guerrilla-group.html Colombia signs cease-fire deal with last guerrilla group]. ''Fox News'' (from the ''Associated Press''). Retrieved September 4, 2017.</ref>

In the 2018 presidential election, conservative [[Iván Duque]], a critic of the FARC agreement, was elected Colombia's president, defeating a leftist former guerrilla terrorist.<ref>Multiple references:

In the 2018 presidential election, conservative [[Iván Duque]], a critic of the FARC agreement, was elected Colombia's president, defeating a leftist former guerrilla terrorist.<ref>Multiple references:

*Martel, Frances (June 18, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/06/18/martel-colombias-conservative-heartland-saves-another-election-day/ Martel: Colombia’s Conservative Heartland Saves Another Election Day]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 18, 2018.

*Martel, Frances (June 18, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/06/18/martel-colombias-conservative-heartland-saves-another-election-day/ Martel: Colombia’s Conservative Heartland Saves Another Election Day]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 18, 2018.

*Boylan, Dave (June 17, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jun/17/ivan-duque-wins-colombias-presidential-race/ Ivan Duque wins Colombia's presidential race]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved June 18, 2018.

*Boylan, Dave (June 17, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jun/17/ivan-duque-wins-colombias-presidential-race/ Ivan Duque wins Colombia's presidential race]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved June 18, 2018.

See also:

See also: