Editing History of Colombia (section)

== From 2004 and on ==
[[File:Marchapaz.jpg|thumb|Colombia's peace protests, 2007]]

By 2004, the security situation of Colombia had shown improvement, and the economy, while still fragile, had also shown some positive signs. On the other hand, relatively little had been accomplished in structurally solving most of the country's other grave problems, in part due to legislative and political conflicts between the administration and the Colombian Congress (including those over the controversial 2006 project to give President [[Álvaro Uribe]] the right to be re-elected), and a relative lack of freely allocated funds and credits. In October 2006, Uribe was [[2006 Colombian presidential election|re-elected]] by a landslide.<ref>{{cite news |title=Colombian President Uribe Re-elected in Landslide |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2006-05-28-voa12/320086.html |work=VOA |language=en |archive-date=2023-05-11 |access-date=2022-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511000613/https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2006-05-28-voa12/320086.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Some critical observers consider in retrospect that Uribe's policies, while admittedly reducing crime and guerrilla activity, were too slanted in favor of a military solution to Colombia's internal war, neglecting grave social and human rights concerns to a certain extent. They hoped that Uribe's government would make serious efforts towards improving the human rights situation inside the country, protecting civilians and reducing any abuses committed by the armed forces.

Uribe's supporters in turn believed that increased military action was a necessary prelude to any serious negotiation attempt with the guerrillas and that the increased security situation would help the government, in the long term, to focus more actively on reducing most wide-scale abuses and human rights violations on the part of both the armed groups and any rogue security forces that might have links to the paramilitaries. In short, these supporters maintained that the security situation needed to be stabilized in favor of the government before any other social concerns could take precedence. In February 2010, the constitutional court blocked President Alvaro Uribe from seeking re-election again.<ref>{{cite news |title=Colombia's Uribe blocked from re-election |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-uribe-idUSTRE61P5PX20100227 |work=Reuters |date=27 February 2010 |language=en}}</ref> Uribe left the presidency in 2010.

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 | caption1 = On 12 August 2010, a terrorist attack by the FARC with a car bomb at the headquarters of [[Caracol Radio]]left 43 people injured.
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 | caption2 = 2012 car bombing targeting the former minister [[Fernando Londoño]]
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In 2010, [[Juan Manuel Santos]] was [[2010 Colombian presidential election|elected]] president; he was supported by ex-president Uribe, and he owed his election mainly through having won over former Uribe supporters.<ref>{{cite news |title=Juan Manuel Santos wins Colombia presidential election |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jun/21/juan-manuel-santos-colombia-president |work=the Guardian |date=21 June 2010 |language=en}}</ref> But two years after winning the presidential election, Santos (to widespread surprise) began peace talks with FARC. which took place in Havana.<ref>{{cite news |title=Colombia confirms October peace talks with FARC |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20120904-colombia-farc-juan-manuel-santos-government-confirms-peace-talks-norway-october |work=France 24 |date=4 September 2012 |language=en |archive-date=23 August 2022 |access-date=2 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823222612/https://www.france24.com/en/20120904-colombia-farc-juan-manuel-santos-government-confirms-peace-talks-norway-october |url-status=live }}</ref> [[2014 Colombian presidential election|Re-elected]] in 2014,<ref>{{cite news |title=Colombia vote: Santos re-elected as president |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-27862555 |work=BBC News |date=16 June 2014 |archive-date=23 May 2022 |access-date=2 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523211826/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-27862555 |url-status=live }}</ref> Santos revived an important infrastructure program, which had been planned during the Uribe administration. Focused mainly on the provision of national highways, the program was led by former vice-president Germán Vargas Lleras.

In 2015, Colombia's Congress limited presidency to single term, preventing the president from seeking re-election.<ref>{{cite news |last1=L |first1=Elizabeth Reyes |title=Colombian lawmakers approve a one-term limit for presidents |url=https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2015/06/04/inenglish/1433416990_898964.html |work=EL PAÍS English Edition |date=4 June 2015 |language=en-us |archive-date=22 September 2020 |access-date=2 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922023726/https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2015/06/04/inenglish/1433416990_898964.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Talks between the government and the guerrillas resulted in the announcement of a peace agreement.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.altocomisionadoparalapaz.gov.co/mesadeconversaciones/index.html|title= Colombia's peace deals|publisher= altocomisionadoparalapaz.gov.co|access-date= 6 September 2017|archive-date= 14 September 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170914085318/http://www.altocomisionadoparalapaz.gov.co/mesadeconversaciones/index.html|url-status= live}}</ref> However, a [[Colombian peace agreement referendum, 2016|referendum]] to ratify the deal was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-37537252 |title=Colombia referendum: Voters reject Farc peace deal |work=[[BBC News]] |date=3 October 2016 |access-date=2 November 2016 |archive-date=30 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930152644/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-37537252 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Plebiscito 2 octubre 2016 – Boletín Nacional No. 53 |url=http://plebiscito.registraduria.gov.co/99PL/DPLZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ_L1.htm |publisher=Registraduría Nacional de Estado Civil |date=2 October 2016 |access-date=2 November 2016 |archive-date=3 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003083638/http://plebiscito.registraduria.gov.co/99PL/DPLZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ_L1.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Afterward, the Colombian government and the FARC signed a revised [[Colombian peace process|peace deal]] in November 2016,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38096179 |title=Colombia signs new peace deal with Farc |date=24 November 2016 |work=[[BBC News]] |archive-date=28 December 2016 |access-date=21 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228195756/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38096179 |url-status=live }}</ref> which the [[Colombian congress]] approved.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/colombian-congress-approves-historic-peace-deal/2016/11/30/9b2fda92-b5a7-11e6-939c-91749443c5e5_story.html |title= Colombia's congress approves historic peace deal with FARC rebels |date= 30 November 2016 |newspaper= Washington Post |archive-date= 1 December 2016 |access-date= 18 February 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161201090410/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/colombian-congress-approves-historic-peace-deal/2016/11/30/9b2fda92-b5a7-11e6-939c-91749443c5e5_story.html |url-status= live }}</ref> In 2016, President Santos was awarded the [[2016 Nobel Peace Prize|Nobel Peace Prize]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2016/santos-lecture_en.html|title= Nobel Lecture by Juan Manuel Santos, Oslo, 10 December 2016|publisher= nobelprize.org|access-date= 10 December 2016|archive-date= 10 December 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161210204701/https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2016/santos-lecture_en.html|url-status= live}}</ref> The government began a process of attention and comprehensive reparation for victims of conflict.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unidadvictimas.gov.co/normatividad/LEY+DE+VICTIMAS.pdf |title=The Victims and Land Restitution Law |publisher=unidadvictimas.gov.co |access-date=21 December 2014 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925110822/http://www.unidadvictimas.gov.co/normatividad/LEY%2BDE%2BVICTIMAS.pdf |archive-date=25 September 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.restituciondetierras.gov.co/inicio |title= the Land Restitution Unit |publisher= restituciondetierras.gov.co |access-date= 23 March 2013 |archive-date= 4 January 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160104000003/https://www.restituciondetierras.gov.co/inicio |url-status= dead }}</ref> Colombia under President Santos showed some progress in the struggle to defend human rights, as expressed by [[Human Rights Watch|HRW]].<ref>[http://colombiareports.co/colombia-has-improved-under-santos-human-rights-watch/ The country has improved its political climate, public debate, in all manner of things including obviously in the subject of human rights: Human Rights Watch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413201236/http://colombiareports.co/colombia-has-improved-under-santos-human-rights-watch/ |date=2015-04-13 }}. colombiareports.co (12 October 2011).</ref> A [[Special Jurisdiction of Peace]] was created to investigate, clarify, prosecute and punish serious human rights violations and grave breaches of [[international humanitarian law]] which occurred during the armed conflict and to satisfy victims' right to [[justice]].<ref>{{cite web|title=ABC Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz|url=http://www.altocomisionadoparalapaz.gov.co/Documents/informes-especiales/abc-del-proceso-de-paz/abc-jurisdiccion-especial-paz.html|publisher=Oficina del Alto Comisionado para la Paz|access-date=24 August 2016|archive-date=5 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005125954/http://www.altocomisionadoparalapaz.gov.co/Documents/informes-especiales/abc-del-proceso-de-paz/abc-jurisdiccion-especial-paz.html|url-status=live}}</ref> During his visit to Colombia, [[Pope Francis]] paid tribute to the victims of the conflict.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/09/08/pope_at_colombia_prayer_meeting_for_reconciliation_weeps_wit/1335635 |title=Pope at Colombia prayer meeting for reconciliation weeps with victims |date=2017-09-08 |website=radiovaticana.va |access-date=2018-02-18 |archive-date=2017-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909034315/http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/09/08/pope_at_colombia_prayer_meeting_for_reconciliation_weeps_wit/1335635 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2018, [[Iván Duque|Ivan Duque]], the candidate of the conservative Centro Democrático ([[Democratic Center (Colombia)|Democratic Centre]]), won the presidential [[2018 Colombian presidential election|election]]. On 7 August 2018, he was sworn in as the new [[president of Colombia]].<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45107063|title = Iván Duque: Colombia's new president sworn into office|work = BBC News|date = 8 August 2018|archive-date = 30 October 2020|access-date = 21 April 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201030105110/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45107063|url-status = live}}</ref>

[[2010 Colombia–Venezuela diplomatic crisis|Colombia's relations with Venezuela]] have fluctuated due to the ideological differences between both governments.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-10926003 Colombia and Venezuela restore diplomatic relations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613030309/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-10926003 |date=2018-06-13 }}. bbc.com (11 August 2010).</ref> Colombia has offered [[Humanitarian aid|humanitarian support]] with food and medicines to mitigate the shortage of supplies in Venezuela.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://es.presidencia.gov.co/noticia/180111-Colombia-reitera-ofrecimiento-de-ayuda-humanitaria-a-Venezuela |title= Colombia reitera ofrecimiento de ayuda humanitaria a Venezuela |date= 11 January 2018 |language= es |website= presidencia.gov.co |access-date= 18 February 2018 |archive-date= 12 January 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180112025350/http://es.presidencia.gov.co/noticia/180111-Colombia-reitera-ofrecimiento-de-ayuda-humanitaria-a-Venezuela |url-status= live }}</ref> Colombia's Foreign Ministry said that all efforts to resolve [[Crisis in Venezuela (2012–present)|Venezuela's crisis]] should be peaceful.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://es.presidencia.gov.co/noticia/170812-Comunicado-de-prensa-del-Ministerio-de-Relaciones-Exteriores |title= Comunicado de prensa del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores |date= 2 June 2017 |language= es |website= presidencia.gov.co |access-date= 18 February 2018 |archive-date= 13 August 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170813113834/http://es.presidencia.gov.co/noticia/170812-Comunicado-de-prensa-del-Ministerio-de-Relaciones-Exteriores |url-status= live }}</ref> Colombia proposed the idea of the [[Sustainable Development Goals]] and a final document was adopted by the [[United Nations]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://impakter.com/short-history-sdgs/|title= A Short History of the SDGS.|date= 20 September 2016|publisher= impakter.com|access-date= 8 October 2017|archive-date= 8 October 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171008122103/http://impakter.com/short-history-sdgs/|url-status= live}}</ref> In February 2019, Venezuelan president [[Nicolás Maduro]] cut diplomatic relations with Colombia after Colombian President Ivan Duque helped Venezuelan opposition politicians deliver humanitarian aid to their country. Colombia recognized Venezuelan opposition leader [[Juan Guaidó|Juan Guaido]] as the country's legitimate president. In January 2020, Colombia rejected Maduro's proposal that the two countries restore diplomatic relations.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-venezuela-idUSKBN1ZT30R|title = Colombia rejects Venezuelan proposal to resume diplomatic relations|newspaper = Reuters|date = 30 January 2020|archive-date = 21 April 2021|access-date = 21 April 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210421065909/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-venezuela-idUSKBN1ZT30R|url-status = live}}</ref>

The 19 June 2022 [[2022 Colombian presidential election|election]] run-off vote ended in a win for former guerrilla [[Gustavo Petro]], taking 50.47% of the vote compared to 47.27% of right-wing [[Rodolfo Hernández Suárez|Rodolfo Hernández]]. The single-term limit for the country's presidency prevented president Iván Duque from seeking re-election. Petro became the country's first leftist president-elect. On 7 August 2022, he was sworn in.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former guerrilla Gustavo Petro wins Colombian election to become first leftist president. |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/20/former-guerrilla-gustavo-petro-wins-colombian-election-to-become-first-leftist-president |work=the Guardian |date=20 June 2022 |language=en |archive-date=2 August 2022 |access-date=2 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802080758/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/20/former-guerrilla-gustavo-petro-wins-colombian-election-to-become-first-leftist-president |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-rebel takes oath as Colombia's first left-wing president |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/8/gustavo-petro-ex-rebel-fighter-sworn-in-as-colombias-president |work=www.aljazeera.com |language=en |archive-date=2022-08-08 |access-date=2022-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808091808/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/8/gustavo-petro-ex-rebel-fighter-sworn-in-as-colombias-president/ |url-status=live }}</ref>