COLOMBIA PEACE COURT FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE UNDER PRESIDENT-ELECT

Colombia's Special Jurisdiction for Peace is facing an uncertain future after President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella vowed to dismantle the tribunal created under the 2016 peace accord with FARC rebels, according to the Associated Press. The court, known by its Spanish initials JEP, was established to investigate and judge crimes committed during Colombia's long internal conflict.

AP reported that de la Espriella has called the tribunal a "failed" institution and argued that it has not delivered justice. The president-elect has made criticism of the peace process part of his political message, while outgoing President Gustavo Petro and supporters of the JEP say the court remains essential to accountability, victims' rights and compliance with the 2016 agreement.

The JEP has operated since 2018 and has processed more than 14,000 suspects, including former FARC members, members of Colombia's security forces and civilians, according to AP. The tribunal was designed to handle war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious abuses that cannot be covered by amnesties or ordinary political settlements.

AP reported that the court has issued major findings in cases involving FARC kidnappings and military extrajudicial killings, including abuses known in Colombia as the "false positives" scandal. Supporters say those cases have produced public truth and recognition for victims, while critics argue the system has been too slow, too costly or too lenient toward former guerrilla leaders.

Closing the tribunal may be harder than campaign language suggests. AP reported that legal experts say the JEP is protected by Colombia's constitutional framework and by international obligations connected to the peace accord. The International Criminal Court has also supported Colombia's transitional justice system, making a full shutdown legally and diplomatically complicated.

JEP President Alejandro Ramelli warned that terminating or defunding the tribunal would endanger victims' rights and could put Colombia out of compliance with its international commitments, according to AP. He said the court's work remains unfinished and that thousands of victims are still waiting for truth, reparations and rulings tied to conflict-era crimes.

The future justice minister designated by de la Espriella has suggested reform rather than outright elimination, according to AP. That leaves open a possible path in which the incoming government tries to reduce funding, narrow the court's mandate, change procedures or alter sentencing rules without formally abolishing the tribunal.

The debate comes during a tense political transition. AP reported earlier that de la Espriella suspended transition work after Petro alleged fraud without evidence, while international observers including the European Union and the Carter Center validated the election's legitimacy and transparency. That dispute has added pressure to institutional questions that were already likely to define the start of the new government.

The immediate questions are whether de la Espriella pursues a full legal attempt to dismantle the JEP, whether Congress supports major changes, and whether courts or international bodies intervene if the tribunal's funding or authority is reduced. For victims of Colombia's conflict, the outcome could determine whether the transitional justice system continues, changes sharply or enters a prolonged institutional standoff.

Fact-check date: 11 July 2026
Article type: News
Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, Colombia Special Jurisdiction for Peace reporting