Demobilization, Reintegration, and The Challenges of Peace Agreement

Description

Prospects for peace rest on the Colombian state’s ability to implement the promises brought by the November 2016 peace agreements between the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC-EP) and the Colombian government. The agreements include provisions regarding various reforms related to illicit crop and drug use, FARC-EP’s political participation, transitional justice, agrarian policies, and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR). The existing infrastructure in Colombia for demobilizing fighters has developed over the last three decades, during which at least five peace processes with five different organizations have taken place. The outcome of these has been twofold: the development of a capacity to demobilize cadres and an ability to reintegrate deserters from armed groups into civilian life. These efforts have experienced challenges and failures, and have highlighted the necessity of converting written agreements into practices and institutions to achieve promises made for cadres and citizens alike.