Armed conflict in Colombia over the past year has inflicted the worst impact on civilians in a decade, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). In an annual report released Tuesday, the humanitarian organisation highlighted a sharp deterioration in the country's security situation.
Displacement and Lockdowns Surge
The ICRC said the number of people displaced as criminal gangs and rebels fought the Colombian state and each other doubled in 2025, reaching 235,000. Meanwhile, the number of people forced to endure lockdowns imposed by rebel groups in small towns and villages increased by 99% last year.
For decades, rebel groups and drug traffickers have battled the Colombian government for control of rural areas, including corridors linked to the cocaine trade. A 2016 peace deal between the government and the largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), initially reduced rural violence. However, the security situation has since deteriorated as smaller groups vie for control of areas once dominated by FARC, where they tax local businesses and intimidate civilians.
Deterioration Since 2018
“The humanitarian situation in 2025 is the result of a progressive deterioration that the ICRC has warned about since 2018,” said Olivier Dubois, the ICRC’s chief of mission in Colombia. For the past four years, President Gustavo Petro’s administration has attempted to reduce violence through peace talks with remaining rebel groups and agreed ceasefires. However, critics argue that rebel groups have used these ceasefires to regroup, rearm, and strengthen their grip on communities, with children increasingly recruited into criminal groups.
Political Violence and Explosive Devices
Political violence has also worsened. A presidential candidate was shot in the head during a rally in Bogota last year and later died from his injuries; authorities blamed one of the nation’s rebel groups. In February, the UN Human Rights office in Colombia said the security situation was “backsliding,” with murders of human rights defenders increasing by 9% last year.
The Red Cross also noted that in 2025, 965 people were killed or injured by explosive devices, including landmines and drones—a 33% increase from the previous year.
Call for Respect of Humanitarian Law
The Red Cross urged parties in Colombia’s armed conflict to respect civilian rights and protect those who no longer wish to take part in hostilities. “Respect for international humanitarian law is not optional,” the humanitarian group stated.
