Colombia's Former Militants Wait to See if De la Espriella Honors Petro's Total Peace Deals

August 19, 2026 — With President Abelardo de la Espriella twelve days into office and having launched what could become Colombia's largest offensive against illegal armed groups in over a decade — including aerial bombardment and forced coca eradication under a 90-day 'shock plan' — demobilized fighters who negotiated benefits under Gustavo Petro's 'Total Peace' policy are waiting to learn whether the new government will honor those commitments. De la Espriella, who branded Total Peace 'fake peace' and pledged on July 5 to revoke benefits granted in negotiations, review prior commitments, and reactivate outstanding arrest warrants, has begun rolling back the framework even as some former combatants remain in government-recognized 'Temporary Ubication Zones' (ZUTs) awaiting reintegration. International Crisis Group warned the shift to a hard-security posture risks pushing wavering factions back into conflict rather than consolidating the partial gains — including the FARC dissident Calarcá track — made under Total Peace.