The UN Verification Mission in Colombia issued a stark warning 47 days before the first round of the presidential election on May 31: the electoral campaign must unfold without violence or stigmatization.
The body warned of a deterioration in the political climate and urged candidates, parties, and authorities to adopt urgent measures to ensure the security and legitimacy of the process.
The report comes at a time of growing tension and following reports of threats by some candidates. This, combined with increasingly aggressive rhetoric and marked polarization, has raised alarms about the risks facing the race.
For the United Nations, the country is approaching a critical phase in which political rhetoric can translate into acts of violence if immediate corrective measures are not taken, and it calls for steps to ensure a calm, free, and safe vote.
The report, which naturally includes verification of compliance with the 2016 Havana Peace Agreement, will be presented to the UN Security Council on April 21.
UN calls for violence-free, non-stigmatizing campaign in Colombia
The UN Mission places one of its main concerns on the tone of the campaign. The report warns that stigmatizing political opponents and the use of rhetoric that promotes delegitimization not only undermine democratic debate but also increase the risk of attacks.
The body stresses that in Colombia this type of language is not harmless. At various moments in its recent history, stigmatization has preceded attacks against political and social leaders. For this reason, it insists that candidates must commit to maintaining respectful discourse focused on proposals, avoiding accusations that could endanger their rivals.
“I remain concerned about incidents of violence that occurred during the campaign and about the influence that armed groups continue to exert in conflict-affected areas. Risks were particularly high in vulnerable regions that have additional representation in Congress under the Final Peace Agreement,” the document states, signed by the head of the United Nations Mission in Colombia, Miroslav Jenca.
The UN also calls on public officials and those who influence public opinion to act responsibly. In a context of high polarization, their statements can help reduce tension or, on the contrary, exacerbate it.
🔵 #Atención | "La implementación integral del Acuerdo de Paz, clave para consolidar la paz y la seguridad en Colombia", dice el Secretario General @antonioguterres @ONU_es, en su más reciente informe sobre @MisionONUCol.
Consúltelo aquí ➡️ https://t.co/3fkIrylHpW pic.twitter.com/ns7DHuhYcz
— Misión de la ONU en Colombia (@MisionONUCol) April 14, 2026
Security at risk and latent threats
Although the report acknowledges that in the legislative elections held on March 8 only 2 of the 13,746 polling stations were relocated preventively for security reasons, it cites several incidents—especially in rural areas—that occurred in the run-up to that vote and serve as a warning for the upcoming election.
Among the acts of violence linked to the March elections, it cites the deadly attack on a senator’s security detail in Arauca; the disappearance of a Senate candidate in Cesar; the detention for several hours of an Indigenous senator by an armed group in Cauca; and a similar incident involving an Indigenous candidate for the special peace constituencies.
The report warns that concern is not limited to rhetoric. There are also signs of deterioration in security conditions amid the campaign. Recent threats against political figures have reignited fears of high-impact violence.
In this context, the UN insists that the protection of candidates and political leaders must be a priority. This entails strengthening security schemes, improving coordination among institutions, and acting preventively in the face of any identified risk.
The body warns that it is not only a matter of reacting to events after they occur, but of anticipating possible scenarios of violence at a particularly sensitive moment in the electoral calendar.
Recognition of the Comunes party
On the other hand, although the Comunes party—formed by demobilized members of the former FARC guerrilla—did not obtain representation in the March elections, leading to the loss of its legal status, the UN office in Colombia made special mention of the group, highlighting the value of its democratic participation.
“Allowing former combatants to participate in political life is a key element of the Final Peace Agreement and remains fundamental for their reintegration into society,” the report notes.
Comunes fielded ten candidates within the Citizen Force (Fuerza Ciudadana) coalition, which obtained just over 114,000 votes, far short of the 500,000 required to secure representation. As a result, after eight years it was left out of Congress, and its future as a party is in question.
“Leaders of Comunes acknowledged the results and the loss of their representation in Congress, pointing to the difficult conditions—including threats in several territories—that hindered their campaign. Despite these setbacks, they reiterated their commitment to the Agreement and its implementation,” the Mission notes, which has spent nine years on the ground verifying compliance with the Havana Peace Agreement, which this year marks a decade since its ratification.
Implementation of the Peace Agreement in Colombia
Regarding the implementation of the agreement, the United Nations highlighted progress and delays in terms of security guarantees, reintegration, and comprehensive rural reform.
The report warns that the security situation remains critical for former combatants, social leaders, and communities in various regions. During the period analyzed (December 2025–March 2026), new killings and several attempted homicides were confirmed, increasing the cumulative figures since the signing of the agreement to hundreds of fatalities, in addition to dozens of people reported missing.
Violence continues to particularly affect Indigenous and Afro-Colombian populations, reflecting the persistence of structural risks in territories where illegal armed groups operate.
This situation is compounded by the humanitarian impact of the conflict. Between late December and March, thousands of people were forcibly displaced and many others remained confined in their communities, mainly due to clashes between armed actors. These events were concentrated in dozens of municipalities and highlight the fragility of the state’s presence in several areas of the country.
In terms of reintegration, the report highlights specific progress, such as the allocation of new land to cooperatives of former combatants, increasing the total number of hectares designated for their economic integration. However, it also underscores significant challenges, especially for those living outside the designated reintegration areas, who represent the majority.
The National Reincorporation Council maintained its central role in coordination with the government and set priorities including improving access to land and housing, strengthening productive projects, and ensuring security.
Regarding rural reform, the report stresses the urgency of approving the legal framework needed to resolve land disputes. Although hundreds of thousands of hectares have been distributed, progress remains far from the established target, requiring greater efforts to ensure ownership and stability for beneficiaries.