They laid down arms. Now ex-guerrillas in Colombia fear fate under new hardline president

On June 13th, 99 ex-guerrilla fighters in Colombia handed over their weapons to government officials, marking the end of their armed conflict after nearly six decades. This act was part of President Gustavo Petro's "total peace" plan, which aimed to negotiate with and disarm all criminal groups in Colombia, estimated to number nearly 30,000 members.

However, this group of 99 individuals was the sole one to disarm, doing so just three days before the presidential runoff, which was won by the far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella. Now, weeks after De la Espriella's inauguration, the former combatants find themselves in a state of uncertainty as they await the government's intentions regarding their future.

They reside in a government-controlled area called ZUT, where they are monitored and lack the ability to leave. The former guerrillas have been stripped of their tactical gear and uniforms, replaced by civilian clothing, and live in a communal setting with three meals a day provided. They are housed in a brick building with drawings they created, including symbols of peace, and have access to a gym and an improvised football pitch.

However, their situation remains unclear as De la Espriella has not announced his plans for these individuals, who are under state protection until December 25th. De la Espriella has pledged not to negotiate peace agreements and has yet to address the matter of the ZUT. The Office of the High Commissioner for Peace, which oversaw the negotiations, has been absorbed into the National Security Commission, leading to potential job losses and the resignation of the negotiator.

The group, originally a faction of the National Coordinator of the Bolivarian Army (CNEB), now faces a future marked by economic interests and drug trafficking rather than ideological commitments.