The government’s Total Peace strategy has made another important advance after an agreement with armed group the National Coordinator of the Bolivarian Army (CNEB) over the voluntary removal of illicit coca plantations – the base ingredient for cocaine – and their replacement with legal alternative crops in southern Colombia. Although the proposals were announced some months ago, a concrete plan is now in place to implement the agreement.
Total Peace prioritises dialogue as the most effective means of reducing violent conflict in Colombia. Currently, the government is holding eight sets of talks with armed groups, including guerrillas such as the National Liberation Army (ELN), paramilitary successor groups and urban gangs. While there have been several challenges, the latest development raises optimism that positive outcomes can be reached.
The CNEB is an offshoot of the Segunda Marquetalia group that was formed in 2019 by former FARC members after a series of legal attacks on former guerrillas despite their involvement in the peace process, as well as the growing insecurity that then had killed over 100 former guerrillas. Today, the figure stands at more than 450.
The crop substitution programme was developed through dialogue involving government representatives, the CNEB and rural, indigenous and African-Colombian communities. Government funding will allow for the replacement of 1,000 hectares of coca with the same quantity of cacao crops by the end of 2025, with a total target of 15,000 hectares in the departments of Nariño and Putumayo.
The CNEB had previously expressed willingness to work towards ending illicit economies in return for state support for rural communities to develop sustainable and legal alternatives. The substitution programmes will be underpinned by social development programmes to improve conditions for affected communities. Many of these have been forced into coca farming due to a lack of viable alternatives amid the dominance of large-scale agriculture.
In addition to funding, the state will provide tools and technical assistance to rural communities enrolled on substitution programmes. Communities will themselves oversee the implementation of these programmes in municipalities such as Patía Viejo, Progreso, Catangueros, Unión del Río Chagüí and Río Mexicano.
There will also be a focus on avoiding repeating past mistakes, such as a lack of provision of legal crops once rural communities had eradicated illicit crops or the failure to establish an institutional presence in designated zones. The necessity of ensuring access to markets, infrastructural development, technical support and security is also covered in the agreement.