Precedents

1982 - 2010

With the precedent of the confrontation between liberal and conservative guerrillas of the “La Violencia” era in Colombia, the armed confrontation between the Colombian State and the FARC-EP dates back to the 1960s with the formation of the guerrilla group in 1964, and the evolution and deployment of its guerrilla structures in different regions of the country during the following decades. 

May 4 1982

Between May 4 and 14, the FARC-EP holds its Seventh Guerrilla Conference.

Jul 7 1982

Belisario Betancur takes office as President of Colombia (1982-1986). He initiates a policy of attempts to begin talks with the country’s insurgent groups.

Nov 19 1982

Law 35 of 1982, which decrees an amnesty and issues provisions aimed at re-establishing and preserving peace, is enacted.

Feb 4 1983

Through Decree No. 240 of 1983, José Luis Serna (Bishop of Florencia), Gerardo Ayerbe Chaux, and Alfredo Carvajal Sinisterra (subsequently replaced by Nicanor Restrepo Santamaría on May 22, 1984) are appointed as High Commissioners for Peace. Later, in September, Antonio Duque Álvarez is also appointed through Decree No. 2560 of 1983.

Mar 28 1984

The FARC-EP guerrillas and the national government sign the first ceasefire agreement, known as the “Uribe Accord” (Los Acuerdos de La Uribe). Peace negotiations formally begin between the insurgent movement and President Belisario Betancur’s government.

Apr 29 1984

The National Verification Commission is created, which aims to ensure the fulfillment of the Uribe Accord. The Commission’s members included Horacio Serpa, Álvaro Leyva Durán, and Fernando Cepeda Ulloa, among others.

Mar 30 1985

In La Uribe, Meta, the FARC-EP announces the creation of the Patriotic Union (UP, for its Spanish acronym). This political party is part of a process of political, economic, and social organization that the FARC-EP had been carrying out since November 1984.

Oct 18 1985

Through Decree No. 3030 of 1985, a Peace, Dialogue, and Verification Commission is appointed to replace the existing commissions and the commissioners retiring that year.

Mar 2 1986

The national government and the FARC-EP agree to extend the ceasefire.

Mar 9 1986

The Patriotic Union (UP, for its Spanish acronym) participates in congressional elections for the first time. Five senators, nine House representatives, 20 departmental representatives, and 353 councilpersons are elected.

Jul 22 1986

John Agudelo Ríos submits his resignation to the Peace, Dialogue, and Verification Commission. Days later, the other members resign, dissolving the Commission and ending negotiations.

Jun 16 1987

The FARC-EP ambushes National Army members at the Quebrada Riecito in the Puerto Rico municipality, Caquetá. 26 soldiers are killed, and an additional 44 are wounded. This event breaks the ceasefire between the national government and the insurgent movement, concluding this period of negotiations.

Aug 7 1990

Cesar Gaviria takes office as President of Colombia (1990-1994). Like his predecessor, Virgilio Barco (1986-1990), he proposes holding peace talks with the country’s insurgent groups, including the FARC-EP. These groups, through the Simón Bolívar Guerrilla Coordinating Body, had expressed their intention to begin dialogues with the national government.

Apr 30 1991

The joint negotiating table between the national government and the Simón Bolívar Guerrilla Coordinating Body (CGSB, for its Spanish acronym) is formed. The CGSB is made up of the FARC-EP, the ELN, and the EPL’s remaining members.

May 15 1991

On May 15, 16, and 17, delegates from the Simón Bolívar Guerrilla Coordinating Body and the national government meet in Cravo Norte, Arauca. A first consensus is reached regarding the negotiation agenda, and they agree to continue dialogues in Caracas, Venezuela.

Jun 1 1991

Negotiating tables are set up in Caracas, Venezuela, to end the armed conflict between the Simón Bolívar Guerrilla Coordinating Body and the national government.

Jul 4 1991

A new Political Constitution is adopted in Colombia. Members of the M-19 and Quintín Lame—former insurgent organizations—participate in its development, as part of peace agreements reached with the governments of Virgilio Barco (1986-1990) and Cesar Gaviria (1990-1994).

Mar 10 1992

A new round of negotiations between the Simón Bolívar Guerrilla Coordinating Body and the national government begins in Tlaxcala, Mexico. The parties reach first agreements and publish a joint communiqué on March 13, calling all segments of society to join the dialogue.

Mar 14 1992

Argelino Durán, former Minister of Public Works, dies in captivity after being kidnapped on January 26 of the same year by members of the EPL (an organization belonging, together with the FARC-EP, to the Simón Bolívar Guerrilla Coordinating Body).

May 4 1992

As a result of former minister Argelino Durán’s death in captivity, peace talks between the national government and the Simón Bolívar Guerrilla Coordinating Body are suspended. Although the parties considered resuming talks in October of that same year, this did not ultimately happen, officially concluding this period of negotiations.

Jun 9 1998

President-elect Andrés Pastrana meets with the FARC-EP’s commander-in-chief, Manuel Marulanda Vélez (“Tirofijo”).

Aug 8 1998

Andrés Pastrana (1998-2002) takes office as President of Colombia, committed to advancing peace negotiations with the FARC-EP.

Nov 7 1998

President Andrés Pastrana decrees the demilitarization of 5 municipalities: San Vicente del Caguán in Caquetá, and La Uribe, Macarena, Vista Hermosa, and Mesetas in Meta.

Jan 7 1999

The negotiating table between the national government and the FARC-EP is installed, with President Andrés Pastrana present. Manuel Marulanda Vélez (“Tirofijo”), FARC-EP commander-in-chief, does not attend the ceremony. Negotiations move forward in the midst of armed confrontation.

Apr 29 2000

The FARC-EP announces the formation of the Bolivarian Movement for a New Colombia (MBNC, for its Spanish acronym) as a political expression of the insurgent group.

Nov 14 2000

The FARC-EP announces an “indefinite freeze” on negotiations with the national government. According to the guerrilla organization, the state had not shown its willingness to fight paramilitary groups.

Feb 9 2001

In the midst of a crisis, followed by various acts of violence in the country, President Andrés Pastrana and Manuel Marulanda Vélez (“Tirofijo”) meet. They reach the Los Pozos Agreement.

Oct 5 2001

Negotiators from the national government and the FARC-EP sign the San Francisco de la Sombra Agreement. In it, the parties commit to studying the possibility of a ceasefire and call on different segments of society to contribute proposals to the peace process.

Oct 7 2001

President Andrés Pastrana extends the demilitarized zone until January 2002. Nevertheless, due to multiple acts of violence, including the kidnapping and murder of former Minister of Culture Consuelo Araújo Noguera, the national government imposes new control measures on the demilitarized area.

Oct 17 2001

The FARC-EP rejects the new conditions established by the national government and leaves the dialogue table.

Feb 20 2002

The FARC-EP hijacks the HK 3951 plane, which was covering the Neiva–Bogotá route. They force it to land on a road in El Hobo, Huila, and kidnap then-senator Jorge Eduardo Géchem Turbay. With this event, the peace talks break down.

Sep 1 2002

The Office of the High Commissioner for Peace, under instructions from the Office of the President, requests aid and good offices from the United Nations Secretary-General in pursuit of a humanitarian agreement with the FARC-EP guerrillas.

Jan 31 2003

In response to the issue of kidnapping, the national government makes public its intention to establish a facilitating mission aimed at engaging the FARC-EP in dialogue, so that kidnapped individuals are released through a humanitarian agreement. Monsignor Luis Augusto Castro, Father Darío Echeverry, and former minister Angelino Garzón take part.

Jun 1 2003

With Operation Liberty I (Operación Libertad Uno), the National Army launches Plan Patriota: a widespread military effort against the FARC-EP and ELN guerrilla organizations. As a result of this strategy, several leaders from these groups fall in the following months and years.

Sep 4 2003

Monsignor Luis Augusto Castro and Father Darío Echeverry hold a meeting with Raúl Reyes to explore the possibility of a humanitarian agreement. Another meeting is held on December 27 of that same year.

Jan 1 2004

There are attempts to begin talks between the Álvaro Uribe government and the FARC-EP through a commission made up of Catholic Church members (Monsignor Luis Augusto Castro and Father Darío Echeverry).

Jun 30 2004

A Swiss government delegate is authorized to meet with FARC-EP members to conduct a mediation aimed at reaching a humanitarian agreement.

Dec 2 2004

As a gesture of goodwill and part of pursuing a humanitarian agreement, the national government pardons 23 FARC-EP guerrilla members and subsequently releases them from prison.

Jun 9 2005

The national government agrees to convert the Aures rural settlement in the Caicedonia municipality, Valle de Cauca, into a meeting place to advance talks related to the humanitarian agreement with the FARC-EP.

Jun 4 2007

As a gesture of goodwill, the national government unilaterally releases Rodrigo Granda and another 150 imprisoned guerrillas to achieve a humanitarian agreement.

Sep 1 2007

Guerrilla leader Tomás Medina Caracas, alias “El Negro Acacio,” is killed in a National Army operation in the Vichada department.

Feb 27 2008

With the International Committee of the Red Cross’s support and the Venezuelan government’s mediation, kidnapped individuals Gloria Polanco, Jorge Géchem, Luis Eladio Pérez, and Orlando Beltrán are released.

Mar 1 2008

Raúl Reyes, a member of the FARC-EP Secretariat, is killed in Ecuador in a National Army raid.

Mar 26 2008

Manuel Marulanda Vélez, alias Tirofijo, FARC-EP commander-in-chief, dies of a heart attack. Alfonso Cano replaces him.

Jul 2 2008

The National Army carries out “Operation Jaque,” freeing 15 kidnapped individuals. Former presidential candidate Íngrid Betancourt and United States contractors Keith Stansell and Marc Gonsalves are among those freed.

Jun 20 2010

Juan Manuel Santos is elected president.

Exploratory Phase

2010 - 2012

The Exploratory phase of the talks between the Colombian Government and the FARC-EP took place between September 2010 and August 2012.  It all began with an exchange of letters and communications – through third party delegates – and ended with the General Agreement to End the Armed Conflict and Build a Stable and Lasting Peace, which guided the course and rules of the talks during the public stage. 

What was the origin of the dialogues between the Colombian Government and the FARC-EP in 2012?
Aug 7 2010
Aug 10 2010

Meeting between President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chávez Frías.

Aug 13 2010

Closing of the 73rd Assembly of the National Business Association of Colombia (ANDI, in Spanish). President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón reiterates his message about ending the armed conflict.

Sep 6 2010

President Juan Manuel Santos authorizes Henry Acosta Patiño to advance attempts to begin talks with the FARC-EP.

Sep 7 2010

Beginning of confidential communication between the National Government and the FARC-EP, through Henry Acosta.

Sep 22 2010

Mono Jojoy, commander of the FARC-EP’s Eastern Bloc, is killed in Operation Sodoma, in the region of La Macarena.

Oct 15 2010

Letter to Henry Acosta from Pablo Catatumbo. Pablo Catatumbo’s response to President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón’s September 7, 2010, message.

Nov 16 2010

Sergio Jaramillo is appointed as High Commissioner for Peace.

Dec 6 2010

Letter to Henry Acosta from Pablo Catatumbo. Conclusions regarding the President of the Republic’s proposal to hold a first meeting between government and FARC-EP delegates.

Dec 21 2010

The Law on Public Order (Law 1421 of 2010), the legal framework for talks with armed groups in Colombia, is enacted.

Dec 25 2010

Letter from Henry Acosta to Pablo Catatumbo with a proposal from the President of the Republic on exploratory meetings.

Dec 27 2010

Creation of the National Security Council (Decree 4748 of 2010).

Dec 29 2010

Letter to Henry Acosta from Pablo Catatumbo on the appointment of Rodrigo Granda to participate in the first exploratory meeting.

Jan 21 2011

Letter to Henry Acosta from Pablo Catatumbo. Response regarding Mauricio Jaramillo’s future presence and guidelines for the first preparatory meeting, including a proposal for Ricardo Téllez to attend on behalf of the FARC-EP.

Feb 23 2011

Letter to Henry Acosta from Pablo Catatumbo. Messages from the President concerning a meeting and possible negotiation.

Mar 2 2011

The first preparatory meeting between delegates of the Colombian government and the FARC-EP is held in Río de Oro, Cesar, about a possible exploratory meeting.

May 1 2011

The FARC-EP designates Mauricio Jaramillo and Timoleón Jiménez as part of their delegation for the exploratory meeting.

Jun 10 2011

The Victims and Land Restitution Law (Law 1448 of 2011) is enacted.

Jun 16 2011

The 2010-2014 National Development Plan (Law 1450 of 2011) is passed.

Jul 15 2011

The second preparatory meeting between delegates of the Colombian government and the FARC-EP is held on Orchila Island, Venezuela, about a possible exploratory meeting.

Jul 20 2011

The third preparatory meeting between delegates of the Colombian government and the FARC-EP is held on Orchila Island, Venezuela, about a possible exploratory meeting.

Nov 4 2011
Dec 7 2011

Meeting between Hugo Chávez, president of Venezuela, and Timoleón Jiménez, commander-in-chief of the FARC-EP.

Jan 22 2012

The last preparatory meeting between delegates of the Colombian government and the FARC-EP is held in Barinas, Venezuela, about a possible exploratory meeting.

Feb 24 2012

First round of exploratory meetings. Exchanges of views on the process of ending the conflict and drafting of several early documents with both delegations’ positions.

Feb 26 2012
Mar 15 2012

Second meeting between Hugo Chávez, president of Venezuela, and Timoleón Jiménez, commander-in-chief of the FARC-EP.

Mar 17 2012

Second round of exploratory meetings. Exchanges of views on the process of ending the conflict and drafting of several early documents with both delegations’ positions.

Apr 11 2012

Third round of exploratory meetings. Exchanges of views on the process of ending the conflict and drafting of several early documents with both delegations’ positions.

May 9 2012

Fourth round of exploratory meetings. Work to prepare a draft of the General Agreement.

May 26 2012

Fifth round of exploratory meetings. Work to prepare a draft of the General Agreement.

Jun 13 2012

Sixth round of exploratory meetings. Work to prepare a draft of the General Agreement.

Jun 24 2012

Seventh round of exploratory meetings. Work to prepare a draft of the General Agreement.

Jul 13 2012

Eighth round of exploratory meetings. Work to prepare a draft of the General Agreement.

Jul 31 2012

The Legal Framework for Peace (Legislative Act 01 of 2012) is enacted.

Aug 6 2012

Ninth round of exploratory meetings. Work to prepare a draft of the General Agreement.

Aug 23 2012

Tenth round of exploratory meetings. Culminates in Havana with the signing of a closing agreement on the General Agreement to End the Armed Conflict and Build a Stable and Lasting Peace.

Aug 26 2012

Signing of the General Agreement to End the Armed Conflict and Build a Stable and Lasting Peace.

Aug 27 2012
Sep 4 2012

Public address from President Juan Manuel Santos on the General Agreement to End the Armed Conflict and Build a Stable and Lasting Peace.

Sep 4 2012

Statement from Timoleón Jiménez, commander-in-chief of the FARC-EP, on the General Agreement to End the Armed Conflict.

Conversations Phase

2012 - 2016

On October 18, 2012, the Negotiations Table was installed, thus initiating the public phase of the process to be carried out in Havana, with the objective of reaching agreements on the six points of the agenda. On August 24, 2016, a first Final Agreement was reached, which was signed in Cartagena a month later.

The challenges of negotiating during wartime
Sep 5 2012

Statement from President Juan Manuel Santos on appointing a government team for peace negotiations.

Sep 6 2012

Appointment of Sergio Jaramillo as High Commissioner for Peace (Decree 1862 of 2012).

Sep 18 2012
Sep 19 2012

Appointment of the government’s delegation to the Negotiation Table: plenipotentiaries and alternate negotiators (Resolution 339 of 2012).

Sep 19 2012

Recognition of FARC-EP members as representatives at the Negotiation Table (Resolution 350 of 2012).

Sep 21 2012

The FARC-EP delegation travels to Oslo, Norway, for the installation of the Negotiation Table.

Oct 16 2012

The National Government’s delegation travels to Oslo, Norway, for the installation of the Negotiation Table.

Oct 18 2012
Oct 26 2012

Congress convenes the Regional Working Groups to Contribute to Ending the Conflict in the Caribbean region (Atlántico, La Guajira, Magdalena, and San Andrés and Providencia).

Oct 30 2012

Congress convenes the Regional Working Groups to Contribute to Ending the Conflict in the central region (Cundinamarca, Boyacá, Tolima, Meta, Casanare, and Guaviare).

Nov 2 2012

Congress convenes the Regional Working Groups to Contribute to Ending the Conflict in the southwestern region (Nariño, Cauca, Valle del Cauca, Putumayo, and Huila).

Nov 6 2012

Preparatory meetings are held at the beginning of discussions on point 1 of the General Agreement.

Nov 7 2012

Congress convenes the Regional Working Groups to Contribute to Ending the Conflict in the northwestern region and coffee belt region (Antioquia, Chocó Risaralda, Quindío, and Caldas).

Nov 9 2012

Congress convenes the Regional Working Groups to Contribute to Ending the Conflict in the southern region and Orinoquía (Amazonas, Caquetá, Vaupés, and Vichada).

Nov 14 2012

Congress convenes the Regional Working Groups to Contribute to Ending the Conflict in the northeastern region (Arauca, Norte de Santander, and Santander).

Nov 14 2012

The Negotiation Table in Havana agrees to receive the conclusions of the Regional Working Groups organized by Congress’s Peace Commissions, which had support from the United Nations as well as Cuba and Norway, the guarantor countries of the process.

Nov 23 2012

Sandra Ramírez and Mauricio Jaramillo, members of the FARC-EP peace delegation, return to Colombia.

Nov 25 2012

The Negotiation Table meets with Bruno Moro, United Nations representative in Colombia, and Alejo Vargas, the National University (Universidad Nacional) representative, to entrust them with organizing forums for citizen participation.

Nov 25 2012

The delegations of the government and the FARC-EP announce a forum on the agrarian issue, to receive civil society’s opinions on this matter.

Nov 28 2012

Within the framework of direct consultations on point 1, the Negotiation Table welcomes Luis Alberto Villegas (VallenPaz), Jesús Darío Fernández (ASOCAM), Israel Escue (Asociación Defensores del Territorio), and Saúl Medina (Asociación Defensores del Territorio).

Nov 29 2012

Delegates from Chile and Venezuela, observer countries, arrive in Havana to meet with the Negotiation Table.

Nov 29 2012

The parties reach an agreement to launch the website www.mesadeconversaciones.com.co and agree on the format for citizen participation via physical means.

Dec 5 2012

In the framework of direct consultations on point 1, the Negotiation Table welcomes Humberto Olaya (ASOPROGUEJAR), Hernán Vásquez B. (Alquería), Darío Fajardo (Center for Reflection and Monitoring the Peace Talks at the National University [Centro de Pensamiento y Seguimiento al Diálogo de Paz de la Universidad Nacional]), and Francisco Gutiérrez (National University).

Dec 7 2012

Launch of the Negotiation Table’s website.

Dec 9 2012

The guarantor countries submit proposals from the Regional Working Groups to Contribute to Ending the Conflict (of Congress’s Peace Commissions) to the Negotiation Table.

Dec 9 2012

The delegations of the government and the FARC-EP report that they received the proposals from civil society and the organizations participating in the Regional Working Groups organized by Congress of the Republic.

Dec 10 2012

The Negotiation Table welcomes Absalón Machado and Jairo Estrada, experts on agrarian issues.

Dec 17 2012

The Citizen Participation Forum on Comprehensive Agrarian Development Policy, point 1 on the negotiation agenda, is held.

Jan 10 2013

The delegations of the government and the FARC-EP receive the proposals presented at the Comprehensive Agrarian Development Policy Forum.

Feb 26 2013

Start of the government’s project to systematize and analyze proposals from Colombian civil society.

Mar 5 2013

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez passes away.

Mar 21 2013

The parties announce a forum on political participation and logistical preparatory meetings with the National University (Universidad Nacional) and the United Nations Office in Colombia (joint communiqué).

Apr 6 2013

Victoria Sandino, Pablo Catatumbo, Freddy González, and Lucas Carvajal become members of the FARC-EP’s peace delegation.

Apr 8 2013

Sergio Marín and Laura Villa become members of the FARC-EP’s peace delegation.

Apr 9 2013

March in support of the peace process with the FARC-EP.

Apr 28 2013
May 9 2013

Congress convenes the Regional Working Group to Contribute to Ending the Conflict – Northwestern region and coffee belt region (Risaralda, Quindío, Caldas, and Antioquia).

May 15 2013

The parties reach an agreement on point 1: Towards a New Colombian Countryside: Comprehensive Rural Reform.

May 16 2013

Congress convenes the Regional Working Group to Contribute to Ending the Conflict – Llanos and Orinoquía regions (Casanare, Meta, Guaviare, Guainía, Vaupés, and Vichada).

May 17 2013

President Juan Manuel Santos announces his bid for re-election.

May 17 2013

Congress convenes the International Working Groups to Contribute to Ending the Conflict (Berlin).

May 19 2013

Congress convenes the International Working Groups to Contribute to Ending the Conflict (London).

May 21 2013

Congress convenes the International Working Groups to Contribute to Ending the Conflict (Brussels).

May 22 2013

Congress convenes the International Working Groups to Contribute to Ending the Conflict (Paris).

May 23 2013

Congress convenes the International Working Groups to Contribute to Ending the Conflict (Barcelona).

May 23 2013

Congress convenes the Regional Working Group to Contribute to Ending the Conflict – Caribbean region I (Atlántico, La Guajira, Magdalena, and Cesar).

May 24 2013

Congress convenes the International Working Groups to Contribute to Ending the Conflict (Catalonia).

May 26 2013

The delegations announce the implementation of a procedure to receive and systematize citizen proposals in the face of massive participation in the forums held.

May 30 2013

Congress convenes the Regional Working Group to Contribute to Ending the Conflict – Caribbean region II (Bolívar, Córdoba, Sucre, and San Andrés and Providencia).

Jun 1 2013

Congress convenes the International Working Groups to Contribute to Ending the Conflict (New York).

Jun 6 2013

Congress convenes the Regional Working Group to Contribute to Ending the Conflict – Pacific region I (Valle del Cauca, Cauca, and Nariño).

Jun 12 2013

The delegations of the government and the FARC-EP receive the proposals and conclusions from the forum on point 2, Political Participation.

Jun 21 2013

Congress convenes the Regional Working Group to Contribute to Ending the Conflict – Northeastern region (Norte de Santander, Santander, and Arauca).

Jun 27 2013

Congress convenes the Regional Working Group to Contribute to Ending the Conflict – Pacific region II (Chocó).

Jul 1 2013

A public statement is issued after the summit of FARC-EP and ELN commanders-in-chief.

Jul 4 2013

Congress convenes the Regional Working Group to Contribute to Ending the Conflict – Southern and Amazon Piedmont regions (Amazonas, Caquetá, Putumayo, and Huila).

Jul 8 2013

The Negotiation Table receives Alberto Rojas Puyo and Fabio Velásquez, experts in matters of citizen participation, within the framework of direct consultation mechanisms.

Jul 11 2013

Congress convenes the Regional Working Group to Contribute to Ending the Conflict – Central region (Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Boyacá, and Tolima).

Jul 16 2013

Five FARC-EP members (Freddy Sandoval, Marina Sánchez, Shirley Morales, Elisa Mirabal, and Jaime Nevado) travel to Havana.

Jul 24 2013

The President of the Republic launches the National Center for Historical Memory’s report, Basta Ya!

Jul 25 2013

A public hearing convened by the Constitutional Court on the Legal Framework for Peace is held.

Jul 29 2013

The Negotiation Table welcomes Víctor Manuel Moncayo, Marco Romero, Carlos Medina Gallego, and Sergio de Zubiría, experts on matters of political participation, within the framework of the direct consultation mechanism.

Aug 23 2013

President Juan Manuel Santos calls the government delegation back to Bogotá for consultations in the context of the discussion on political participation.

Aug 26 2013

The delegations of the government and the FARC-EP request that the United Nations Office in Colombia and the National University’s Center for Reflection and Monitoring the Peace Talks (Centro de Pensamiento y Seguimiento al Diálogo de Paz de la Universidad Nacional) organize a forum on point 4, Solution to the Illicit Drugs Problem.

Sep 24 2013

The National Forum on the Solution to the Illicit Drugs Problem is held on point 4 of the negotiation agenda.

Oct 1 2013

The Regional Forum on the Solution to the Illicit Drugs Problem is held in San José del Guaviare, Guaviare, on point 4 of the negotiation agenda.

Oct 23 2013

The National Summit of Women and Peace is held in Bogotá.

Oct 27 2013
Nov 6 2013

The parties reach an agreement on point 2 of the agenda: Political Participation: A Democratic Opportunity to Build Peace.

Nov 25 2013

Commemoration of the first year of operation of the Negotiation Table’s website.

Nov 26 2013

María Paulina Riveros and Nigeria Rentería are appointed as plenipotentiaries of the government delegation at the Negotiation Table (Resolution 321 of 2013).

Nov 29 2013

The United Nations Office in Colombia and the National University (Universidad Nacional) deliver the results of the forum on point 4.

Dec 4 2013

The FARC-EP proposes including a commission on the historical truth of the Colombian internal conflict.

Dec 6 2013

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) presentation to the Negotiation Table.

Dec 17 2013

The Negotiation Table conducts direct consultations on point 4 with Ricardo Vargas, Darío Fajardo, Rodrigo Uprimny, Francisco Thoumi, Alfredo Molano, the Association of Women Farmers from the Rosas Municipality (Asociación de Mujeres Agricultoras del Municipio de Rosas – ASMAR), the CRISTACAÑA Business and Agricultural Association (Asociación Empresarial y Agropecuaria), and the Association of Rubber Producers and Marketers (Asociación de Productores y Comercializadores de Caucho – ASOPROCAUCHO).

Dec 18 2013

The Negotiation Table welcomes Ricardo Vargas and Darío Fajardo as experts on point 4, Solution to the Illicit Drugs Problem.

Dec 19 2013

The Negotiation Table welcomes delegates, both men and women, from ASMAR of Cauca; CRISTACAÑA of Vistahermosa, Meta; and ASOPROCAUCHO of El Retorno, Guaviare, in order to learn about their experience in the process of substituting illicit crops and rebuilding community networks and legal economies.

Jan 9 2014

Julián Conrado is transferred to Havana as a member of the FARC-EP’s peace delegation.

Jan 24 2014

Marcela González, Laura Villa, and Bernardo Salcedo—members of the FARC-EP’s peace delegation—return to Colombia.

Jan 24 2014

Fidel Rondón is transferred to Havana as a member of the FARC-EP’s peace delegation.

Jan 24 2014

Fabián Ramírez and Jairo Martínez are transferred to Havana as members of the FARC-EP’s peace delegation.

Feb 4 2014

Illegal wiretapping of the government’s negotiating team is reported.

Feb 8 2014

Meeting of the FARC-EP’s delegation with members of the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace to address the situation of individuals deprived of their liberty.

Feb 24 2014

Discussion begins on the possibility of creating a Subcommittee for Ending the Conflict that would discuss the ceasefire.

Mar 6 2014

Second meeting of the FARC-EP’s delegation with members of the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace to address the situation of individuals deprived of their liberty.

Mar 22 2014

The FARC-EP acknowledges its responsibility for the homicide of Major Germán Méndez Pabón and Edílmer Muñoz Ortiz, a National Police patrol officer, who had both gone missing on March 15 in the rural area of Tumaco, Nariño.

May 12 2014

The parties reach an agreement on point 4 of the negotiation agenda: Solution to the Illicit Drugs Problem.

May 25 2014

First round of the presidential elections.

Jun 7 2014
Jun 7 2014

The agreement for creating the Technical Subcommittee for Ending the Conflict (STFC, in Spanish) is announced.

Jun 7 2014

The delegations of the government and the FARC-EP request that the United Nations Office in Colombia and the National University’s Center for Reflection and Monitoring the Peace Talks (Centro de Pensamiento y Seguimiento al Diálogo de Paz de la Universidad Nacional) organize forums on point 5, Victims.

Jun 15 2014

Second round of the presidential elections. Juan Manuel Santos is re-elected as president.

Jul 5 2014
Jul 6 2014

Beginning of a series of preparatory meetings for round 27 on the victims point. First preparatory meeting.

Jul 11 2014
Jul 15 2014

Second preparatory meeting for round 27 on the victims point.

Jul 18 2014
Jul 27 2014

Third preparatory meeting for round 27 on the victims point.

Aug 3 2014
Aug 5 2014

Completion of a series of preparatory meetings for round 27 on the victims point. Fourth preparatory meeting.

Aug 15 2014
Aug 16 2014
Aug 22 2014

Early meeting of members from the delegations of the government and the FARC-EP who will be part of the Technical Subcommittee for Ending the Conflict.

Aug 22 2014

The formation of the government delegation to the Technical Subcommittee for Ending the Conflict is authorized (Resolution 227 of 2014).

Aug 22 2014

The delegations of the government and the FARC-EP set up the Historical Commission on the Conflict and its Victims.

Aug 22 2014
Sep 2 2014

The Negotiation Table welcomes Javier Ciurlizza, an expert in truth commissions.

Sep 2 2014

The Office of the High Commissioner for Peace’s Thematic Directorate (Dirección Temática) and the Office of the Minister-Advisor for the Post-Conflict Period, Human Rights, and Security (Despacho del Ministro Consejero para el Posconflicto, Derechos Humanos y Seguridad) are created (Decree 1649 of 2014).

Sep 3 2014

The Negotiation Table welcomes Mark Freeman, an expert on truth commissions.

Sep 10 2014

The second group of victims meets with the delegations at the Negotiation Table.

Sep 11 2014

The delegations of the government and the FARC-EP receive the proposals presented at the citizen participation forums on the victims point.

Sep 24 2014
Oct 2 2014
Oct 4 2014

Olmedo Correa, Tomás Ojeda, and Emiro Gómez—members of the FARC-EP’s delegation—return to Colombia.

Oct 4 2014

Pastor Alape, Isaías Trujillo, Érika Trujillo, Eduardo Alcalá, Serena Alape, Rubín Morro, Pablo Jaramillo, Gabriel Hernández, Mayerli Gómez, and Leonidas Esparto are transferred to Havana as members of the FARC-EP’s peace delegation.

Oct 17 2014

Rubén Zamora and Sergio Ibáñez, members of the FARC-EP delegation, return to Colombia.

Oct 17 2014

Carlos Antonio Lozada and Isabela San Roque are transferred to Havana as members of the FARC-EP’s peace delegation.

Oct 20 2014

Wálter Mendoza is transferred to Havana as a member of the FARC-EP’s peace delegation.

Oct 22 2014

Andrés París, Miguel Pascuas, Patricia Cano, and Noel Pérez—members of the FARC-EP’s delegation—return to Colombia.

Oct 25 2014

The Negotiation Table welcomes Marcy Mersky and María Camila Moreno, experts on truth commissions.

Nov 2 2014

The Gender Subcommittee announces meetings with women’s organizations.

Nov 2 2014
Nov 16 2014

Brigadier General Rubén Darío Alzate Mora is kidnapped by members of the FARC-EP’s 34th Front, along with Army Corporal Jorge Rodríguez Contreras and lawyer Gloria Urrego, in the hamlet of Las Mercedes de Quibdó, Chocó.

Nov 24 2014

Soldiers Paulo César Rivera Capelo, Jonathan Díaz Franco, and Carlos Becerra Ojeda are released.

Dec 1 2014

Part of the National Government’s delegation travels to Havana to meet with the FARC-EP after the General Alzate incident.

Dec 15 2014

Within the framework of the Gender Subcommittee, the first delegation of women’s organizations visits Havana.

Dec 16 2014
Dec 17 2014

The FARC-EP declares an indefinite unilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities.

Dec 18 2014

The FARC-EP asks for forgiveness from Bojayá victims.

Dec 18 2014

The Law on Public Order (Law 1738 of 2014) is enacted.

Dec 26 2014

The law establishing rules for constitutional approval of a Final Agreement to End the Armed Conflict (Law 1745 of 2014) is enacted.

Dec 28 2014

Joaquín Gómez and Olga Arenas are transferred to Havana as members of the FARC-EP’s peace delegation.

Feb 2 2015

The Negotiation Table meets with the members of the Historical Commission on the Conflict and its Victims.

Feb 9 2015

The Frente Amplio por la Paz travels to Havana to present its analysis of the unilateral ceasefire declared by the FARC-EP.

Feb 11 2015

Men and women representatives from organizations of women victims, small-scale farmers, indigenous people, Afro-descendant people, former combatants, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex persons, as well as human rights defenders and leaders, meet with the Gender Subcommittee to present their proposals.

Feb 12 2015

Announcement by the FARC-EP on the non-incorporation of minors into its ranks.

Feb 27 2015

Bernie Aronson, the United States Special Envoy to the Colombian Peace Process, and Kevin Whitaker, United States Ambassador to Colombia, visit Havana.

Feb 27 2015

Meeting of the delegations of the government and the FARC-EP with Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the Negotiation Table.

Mar 4 2015

The Negotiation Table conducts direct consultations on points 3 and 6 (Technical Subcommittee for Ending the Conflict) with Major General (Retired) Julio Arnoldo Balconi Turcios (Government – Guatemala), Rodrigo Sandino Asturias Valenzuela (former guerrilla – Guatemala), and General (Retired) Luis Alejandro Sintes (Spanish Army – UN observer).

Mar 5 2015
Mar 5 2015

Visit of the third delegation of women’s and LGBTI organizations to Havana, within the framework of the Gender Subcommittee.

Mar 6 2015

Meeting of the Gender Subcommittee with civil society representatives.

Mar 7 2015

The delegations of the government and the FARC-EP at the Negotiation Table reach an agreement on demining.

Mar 10 2015

President Santos creates an Advisory Commission for Peace with representatives from the country’s different population segments.

Mar 21 2015

First meeting of the technical working group to discuss the demining agreement.

Mar 23 2015

Gender Subcommittee meeting to discuss recommendations made to drafts of the agreement on points 1, 2, and 4, as well as to make recommendations to the proposals on the Truth Commission and on disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration with a gender perspective.

Mar 23 2015

The Negotiation Table conducts new direct consultations on points 3 and 6 (Technical Subcommittee for Ending the Conflict) with Jean Arnault (UN), Major General Mauricio Ernesto Vargas (Government – El Salvador), José Luis Merino (former guerrilla – El Salvador), and Colonel (Retired) Prudencio García (Spanish Army – UN observer).

Mar 26 2015

Technical Subcommittee meeting on point 3, End of the Conflict, to listen and discuss international experiences in disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration.

Apr 9 2015

A march for peace is held, organized by Gustavo Petro and Piedad Córdoba, to express support for the peace process.

Apr 14 2015

Meeting of the technical working group to discuss the demining agreement. The first pilot site for demining is selected: El Orejón mountain, El Orejón rural settlement, in Briceño, Antioquia.

Apr 15 2015

FARC-EP attack on the military in the La Esperanza rural settlement in Buenos Aires, Cauca. Ten soldiers die and another eighteen are injured in the incident.

Apr 17 2015

The Negotiation Table conducts a new round of direct consultations on points 3 and 6 (Technical Subcommittee for Ending the Conflict) with Aracelly Santana (Ecuador – UN), Jeffrey Mapendere (former guerrilla – Zimbabwe), Yon Medina Vivanco (Peru – UN), and Julian Thomas Hottinger.

Apr 18 2015

Technical Subcommittee meeting on point 3, End of the Conflict, to listen and discuss international experiences in disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration.

Apr 28 2015

Enrique Santos, special delegate of President Juan Manuel Santos, is sent to Havana to support the development of the peace talks.

May 5 2015

Signing of the demining protocol by the reference group of the demining pilot project.

May 22 2015

The FARC-EP declares a suspension of the unilateral ceasefire.

May 22 2015

Meeting of the National Government’s delegation with Bernie Aronson, United States Special Envoy to the Colombian Peace Process.

May 25 2015

The government’s delegation meets with Zainab Bangura, United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

May 26 2015

Military forces kill Alfredo Alarcón Machado (Román Ruiz), commander of the Northwestern Bloc of the FARC-EP in the Chocó department.

May 27 2015

María Ángela Holguín and Gonzalo Restrepo are appointed as plenipotentiaries of the government’s delegation to the Negotiation Table (Resolution 091 of 2015).

May 29 2015

The Technical Group for Demining presents advances in the pilot demining project in El Orejón to the Negotiation Table.

May 29 2015

The Negotiation Table welcomes Minister of Foreign Affairs María Ángela Holguín and businessman Gonzalo Restrepo as new plenipotentiaries.

May 31 2015

Meeting of the President of the Republic with part of the government’s delegation and a group of external advisors made up of Jonathan Powell, William Ury, and Joaquín Villalobos.

Jun 9 2015

The 2014-2018 National Development Plan (Law 1753 of 2015) is passed.

Jul 7 2015

The Technical Group for Demining agrees on the annex to the Demining Pilot Plan on mechanisms to reinforce the community’s and the multitask team’s safety in the El Orejón rural settlement.

Jul 12 2015

The delegations of the government and the FARC-EP reach an agreement on accelerating the work in Havana and de-escalating offensive actions in Colombia, and the creation of a legal group to discuss the point on justice is formalized, made up of three lawyers designated by the President and three lawyers designated by the FARC-EP.

Jul 19 2015

Release of Second Lieutenant Cristian Moscoso, who was kidnapped by the FARC-EP.

Jul 23 2015

First formal meeting of the Security Guarantees Group, made up of government and FARC-EP delegates, to address this subpoint on End of the Conflict.

Jul 25 2015

The president orders the suspension of bombings against the FARC-EP.

Jul 26 2015

Douglas Cassel, Juan Carlos Henao, and Manuel José Cepeda, legal advisors to the government, arrive in Havana to meet for the first time with the attorneys of the FARC-EP’s legal group to address the issue of justice.

Jul 27 2015

First meeting of the government’s legal advisors with plenipotentiaries from the National Government’s delegation to exchange views on the point of justice.

Jul 30 2015

First meeting of the Review of the Legal Situation of Persons Deprived of Liberty working group, made up of government and FARC-EP delegates.

Aug 3 2015

Ethnic leader Genaro García is assassinated by the FARC-EP in the rural area of Tumaco, Nariño.

Aug 9 2015

Pablo Catatumbo returns to Havana as a member of the FARC-EP’s peace delegation.

Aug 25 2015

Meeting of a group of ten women NGO representatives with the Gender Subcommittee to share their proposals on victims of sexual violence.

Aug 29 2015

Meeting of legal advisors with the government’s delegation in Havana to address the point of justice.

Sep 15 2015

The Negotiation Table meets with delegates of the United Nations Secretary-General, led by Jean Arnault, and of UNASUR’s Pro Tempore Presidency, Uruguay, led by José Bayardi.

Sep 15 2015

Meeting of the Technical Subcommittee for Ending the Conflict with delegates of the United Nations Secretary-General, led by Jean Arnault, and of UNASUR’s Pro Tempore Presidency, Uruguay, led by José Bayardi.

Sep 18 2015

Meeting of the group of jurists delegated by the Negotiation Table in Bogotá, which achieves a draft agreement on the point of justice.

Sep 23 2015
Oct 5 2015

The government’s delegation meets with Bernie Aronson, United States Special Envoy to the Colombian Peace Process.

Oct 6 2015

Meeting of the steering group of the demining agreement to take stock of the project.

Oct 6 2015

Meeting of the Technical Subcommittee for Ending the Conflict with UN and UNASUR delegates.

Oct 9 2015

An agreement is announced on immediate confidence-building measures to contribute to searching for, locating, identifying, and returning the remains of persons deemed as missing in the context of and due to the armed conflict, and the creation of the Special Unit for the Search for Persons Deemed as Missing.

Nov 5 2015

Meeting of the Technical Subcommittee for Ending the Conflict’s members with the demining pilot project’s team.

Nov 6 2015

Meeting of the group of jurists delegated by the President, with the representatives of FARC-EP in the Negotiation Table.

Nov 8 2015

Gender Subcommittee meeting in Havana to mainstream the gender perspective in the agreements reached.

Nov 10 2015

Meeting of the Technical Subcommittee for Ending the Conflict with Jean Arnault, delegate of the United Nations Secretary-General, to discuss issues related to the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism.

Nov 11 2015

The delegations of the government and the FARC-EP meet with Carlos Valdés, director of the National Institute of Legal Medicine, and Christoph Harnish, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross’s delegation in Colombia, to discuss the process of searching for persons deemed as missing.

Nov 12 2015

Meeting of the Technical Subcommittee for Ending the Conflict with the United Nations Secretary-General delegate, Jean Arnault, and UNASUR’s Pro Tempore Presidency delegate, José Bayardi.

Nov 12 2015

A group of businesspeople meets with the delegations of the government and the FARC-EP at the Negotiation Table and issues a statement expressing their support for the peace process.

Nov 18 2015

Meeting of the justice group to consolidate the definitive version of the agreement on justice.

Nov 23 2015

Meetings of the delegations of the government and the FARC-EP with representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross to address the issue of the search protocol for persons deemed as missing.

Nov 27 2015

The parties consolidate the final version of the agreement on justice.

Dec 7 2015
Dec 9 2015

The parties reach an agreement on the entirety of point 5: Agreement on the Comprehensive System for Truth, Justice, Reparations, and Non-Recurrence.

Dec 10 2015

The Technical Subcommittee for Ending the Conflict meets and prepares a draft of the agreement on the bilateral and definitive ceasefire and cessation of hostilities and the laying down of arms.

Jan 14 2016

The government’s delegation meets with Eamon Gilmore, European Union Envoy for the Peace Process.

Jan 16 2016

Meeting of the Technical Subcommittee for Ending the Conflict with Jean Arnault, delegate of the United Nations Secretary-General.

Jan 17 2016

The delegations of the National Government and the FARC-EP meet with Cuban President Raúl Castro.

Jan 19 2016

The delegations of the National Government and the FARC-EP announce the creation of a tripartite mechanism for monitoring and verifying the agreement on the bilateral and definitive ceasefire and cessation of hostilities and laying down of arms.

Jan 23 2016

The Negotiation Table receives progress reports from the Technical Subcommittee for Ending the Conflict and the Security Guarantees Working Group.

Feb 8 2016

The Forum on the End of the Conflict and Implementation, Verification, and Endorsement is held on points 3 and 6.

Feb 10 2016

The FARC-EP publicly renounces the recruitment of minors under the age of eighteen.

Feb 15 2016

The United Nations and the Center for Reflection and Monitoring the Peace Talks (Centro de Pensamiento y Seguimiento al Diálogo de Paz) deliver the results of the forum on points 3 and 6.

Feb 15 2016

The Technical Investigation Team (CTI, in Spanish) and the Attorney General’s Office of Colombia (Fiscalía General de la Nación) initiate activities to search for, locate, identify, and return in a dignified manner the remains of persons disappeared due to the armed conflict in the cemetery of La Macarena, Meta.

Feb 18 2016

The President of the Republic suspends FARC-EP delegates’ educational visits to their camps in Colombia after the incident in the Conejo rural settlement in Fonseca, La Guajira.

Feb 18 2016

Thirteen former members of armed groups in twelve peace processes visit the Gender Subcommittee.

Mar 14 2016

The human rights ombudsman presents a plan of recommendations in order to strengthen institutional capacities and victims’ participation in searching for, locating, identifying, and returning in a dignified manner the remains of persons deemed as missing.

Mar 14 2016

Representatives of organizations on the search for persons deemed as missing arrive in Havana.

Mar 14 2016

Enrique Santos arrives in Havana to meet with the government’s delegation and the FARC-EP commander, Timoleón Jiménez.

Mar 21 2016

Meeting of the government’s negotiating team with United States Secretary of State John Kerry.

Apr 11 2016

An amendment to the Law on Public Order (Law 1779 of 2016) is issued, which covers the implementation of some partial agreements reached.

Apr 29 2016

The delegations of the National Government and the FARC-EP formally begin discussions on point 6, Implementation, Verification, and Endorsement.

May 12 2016

The parties reach an agreement to provide the Final Agreement with legal security and stability.

May 15 2016

The delegations of the National Government and the FARC-EP announce an agreement on releasing minors under fifteen years of age from FARC-EP camps.

May 18 2016

Former women combatants visit the Technical Subcommittee for Ending the Conflict and the Gender Subcommittee.

May 19 2016

Installation of the technical working group for the protocol to release minors under fifteen years of age from FARC-EP camps.

Jun 2 2016

Agreement to receive representatives of indigenous, Roma, Afro-Colombian, black, Palenquero, and Raizal communities.

Jun 10 2016

The delegations of the National Government and the FARC-EP announce the implementation of the voluntary substitution agreement for illicit crops in the Briceño municipality, Antioquia.

Jun 23 2016

The parties sign an agreement on the bilateral and definitive ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, security guarantees, and the fight against criminal organizations, signed by President Juan Manuel Santos and the FARC-EP’s commander-in-chief, Timoleón Jiménez.

Jun 24 2016

Roy Barreras is appointed as a plenipotentiary of the government delegation at the Negotiation Table (Resolution 169 of 2015).

Jun 26 2016

Delegates from ethnic groups visit the Negotiation Table to include an ethnic approach in point 6.

Jun 29 2016

The Framework Plan for Implementation (PMI, for its Spanish acronym) is formally established, with pillars, strategies, products, measurable goals, and indicators necessary for implementing the Final Agreement.

Jul 5 2016

A review of the pending issues in agreements reached thus far begins.

Jul 7 2016

The legislative act covering the “fast track” process and special presidential powers for six months is issued to expedite the implementation of a Final Agreement (Legislative Act 01 of 2016).

Jul 18 2016

The Constitutional Court approves the plebiscite as a mechanism to endorse the Peace Agreement with the FARC-EP.

Jul 19 2016

The government creates the Interinstitutional Technical Committee to review lists of FARC-EP members (Decree 1174 of 2016).

Jul 19 2016

The position of peace advocates (gestores de paz) is regulated (Decree 1175 of 2016).

Jul 24 2016

The delegations of the National Government and the FARC-EP present the results of including a gender perspective in the agreements.

Aug 5 2016

The parties reach an agreement on protocols for the ceasefire and laying down of arms, which accompany the agreement on these issues.

Aug 9 2016

In Colombia, delegates from the government, the FARC-EP, and the UN begin technical visits to the places where the Transitory Local Zones for Normalization (ZVTN, in Spanish) and the Transitional Points for Normalization (PTN, in Spanish) will be located.

Aug 12 2016

The parties reach an agreement on selection mechanisms for magistrates of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace.

Aug 24 2016

Technical visits to the Transitory Local Zones for Normalization (ZVTN, in Spanish) and Transitional Points for Normalization (PTN, in Spanish) conclude.

Aug 24 2016

The delegations of the government and the FARC-EP meet with a delegation from the Interethnic Commission (Comisión Interétnica) to define issues of the Final Agreement’s ethnic chapter.

Aug 24 2016

Agreement reached. The delegations announce that they have reached a final, comprehensive, and definitive agreement.

Aug 24 2016

Formal discussions at the Negotiation Table conclude.

Aug 24 2016

The statutory law establishing the terms of the plebiscite for the Final Agreement’s endorsement is passed (Statutory Law 1806 of 2016).

Aug 26 2016

President Juan Manuel Santos, by means of Decree 1386, orders a bilateral and definitive ceasefire and cessation of hostilities between the National Government and the FARC-EP.

Sep 15 2016

President Juan Manuel Santos acknowledges the State’s responsibility in the case of the Patriotic Union (UP, in Spanish).

Sep 17 2016

The FARC-EP holds its Tenth Conference, the organization’s highest decision-making body, in which it ratifies its support for the Final Agreement.

Sep 23 2016

The FARC-EP acknowledges its responsibility in the La Chinita massacre in Apartadó, Antioquia.

Sep 26 2016

The parties officially sign the Agreement to End the Armed Conflict and Build a Stable and Lasting Peace in Cartagena, Colombia.

Oct 2 2016

The plebiscite is held as an endorsement mechanism so that Colombian society may vote in favor of or against the Final Agreement reached in Havana.

Renegotiation Phase

2016

Following the Constitutional Court’s endorsement to establish a mechanism for citizen endorsement of what was agreed in Havana (Cuba), on October 2, 2016, the Plebiscite for peace was held. Colombians were asked: “Do you support the final agreement to end the conflict and build a stable and lasting peace?”. 6,431,376 citizens (50.21%) voted “No” and 6,377,482 (49.78%) “Yes”. In view of the disapproval of the Agreement, the Colombian government activated a Great National Dialogue with the purpose of collecting proposals for adjustments and clarifications from sectors that had voted in favor and against the Agreement. With these proposals, the government and FARC-EP sat down again in Havana to build a new agreement to be reached on November 12, 2016.  

How was the Peace Agreement renegotiated?
Oct 2 2016

The National Civil Registry announces that “No” won with 6,431,376 votes (50.1%) of the total vote. “Yes” obtained 6,377,482 votes (49.78%). The difference was 53,894 votes.

Oct 2 2016

President Santos acknowledges the plebiscite results and calls for a Great National Dialogue with different segments of society.

Oct 3 2016

Meetings with spokespersons from the “Yes” and “No” sides begin, thus beginning the Great National Dialogue after the disapproval of the Final Agreement in the plebiscite.

Oct 3 2016

Meeting of President Juan Manuel Santos with the government’s delegation in Havana and with the heads of political parties promoting the “Yes” vote: the Partido de la U, Partido Liberal, Cambio Radical, Alianza Verde, Partido Conservador, Polo Democrático, and Unión Patriótica. Thus begins the Great National Dialogue.

Oct 4 2016

Meeting of President Juan Manuel Santos with the National Business Council (Consejo Gremial Nacional).

Oct 4 2016

Meeting of President Juan Manuel Santos with evangelical pastors.

Oct 5 2016

Government meeting with former President Andrés Pastrana.

Oct 5 2016

Meeting of President Juan Manuel Santos with former President Álvaro Uribe, Marta Lucía Ramírez, and Alejandro Ordóñez.

Oct 6 2016

Meeting of the Government Dialogue Commission with those promoting the “No” vote.

Oct 6 2016

Massive mobilization for peace is held in different cities to support a new Final Agreement.

Oct 7 2016

The awarding of the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize to President Juan Manuel Santos is announced.

Oct 7 2016

Meeting of President Juan Manuel Santos with representatives of more than fifty organizations promoting the “Yes” vote.

Oct 7 2016

Meeting of President Juan Manuel Santos with the country’s governors.

Oct 9 2016

President Juan Manuel Santos visits the Bojayá victims after the Nobel Peace Prize announcement and his tribute to the victims of the armed conflict.

Oct 10 2016

Indigenous peoples’ visit to President Juan Manuel Santos as part of the Great National Dialogue with “Yes” segments of society.

Oct 10 2016

Meeting of President Juan Manuel Santos with Marta Lucía Ramírez as part of the Great National Dialogue with “No” segments of society.

Oct 10 2016

Meeting of the Government Dialogue Commission with those promoting the “No” vote.

Oct 11 2016

Meeting of President Juan Manuel Santos with representatives of armed conflict victims.

Oct 11 2016

Meeting of President Juan Manuel Santos with the government’s delegation in Havana.

Oct 11 2016

Meeting of President Juan Manuel Santos with fourteen leaders and representatives of victims, led by the head of the Fundación Víctimas Visibles, Diana Sofía Giraldo, during the Great National Dialogue.

Oct 11 2016

Meeting of President Juan Manuel Santos with representatives of various Christian churches during the Great National Dialogue.

Oct 11 2016

Meeting of President Juan Manuel Santos with former Inspector General of Colombia, Alejandro Ordóñez, during the Great National Dialogue.

Oct 12 2016

Meeting of President Juan Manuel Santos with representatives of the Catholic Church during the Great National Dialogue.

Oct 12 2016

Meeting of President Juan Manuel Santos with all of the country’s women mayors during the Great National Dialogue.

Oct 12 2016

Meeting of Minister of the Interior Juan Fernando Cristo and the Vice Minister of the Interior with eighty representatives of churches during the Great National Dialogue.

Oct 12 2016

Meeting of the Government Dialogue Commission with those promoting the “No” vote.

Oct 13 2016

Meeting of the Government Dialogue Commission during the Great National Dialogue with those promoting the “No” vote.

Oct 13 2016

Meeting of Minister of the Interior Juan Fernando Cristo and the Secretary General of the OAS with victims’ leaders and student leaders to hear proposals on the peace agreement during the Great National Dialogue.

Oct 13 2016

Meeting of President Juan Manuel Santos with representatives of public and private universities during the Great National Dialogue.

Oct 13 2016

Meeting of Minister of Defense Luis Carlos Villegas with former President Andrés Pastrana’s political team during the Great National Dialogue.

Oct 13 2016

Meeting of President Juan Manuel Santos with government delegates for the Great National Dialogue.

Oct 14 2016

Meeting of Minister of the Interior Juan Fernando Cristo during the Great National Dialogue with leaders of Christian churches who voted “No” in the plebiscite.

Oct 14 2016

Meeting of Minister of the Interior Juan Fernando Cristo with Presidential Advisor for Gender Equity Martha Ordóñez and representatives of nine women’s organizations to explain a point on the gender perspective included in the Peace Agreement with the FARC-EP and hear their proposals on the matter.

Oct 20 2016

Temporary Pre-Grouping Points are established (Resolution 282 of 2016) for placing FARC-EP members while the Great National Dialogue progresses.

Oct 25 2016

Meeting of government delegates with Marta Lucía Ramírez and Camilo Gómez (advisor to Andrés Pastrana) during the Great National Dialogue.

Oct 29 2016

Meeting of government delegates and representatives of political parties during the Great National Dialogue with representatives of the “No” vote, including Óscar Iván Zuluaga, Diana Sofía Gaviria, Carlos Holmes, and Álvaro Uribe.

Oct 31 2016

Meeting of government delegates with “No” representatives during the Great National Dialogue.

Nov 1 2016

Meeting of government delegates with Claudia Rodríguez and other representatives on the gender perspective during the Great National Dialogue.

Nov 2 2016

Meeting of government delegates with “No” representatives during the Great National Dialogue.

Nov 8 2016

Government and FARC delegates resume dialogue in Havana to construct a new Final Agreement.

Nov 11 2016

Government and FARC work in Havana to construct a new Final Agreement.

Nov 12 2016

The parties announce that they have reached a new Final Agreement in Havana.

Nov 24 2016
Nov 28 2016

The Council of State issues a favorable decision on the Final Agreement’s ratification by Congress (Decision No. 2323 of the Chamber of Civil Service and Consultation [Sala de Consulta y Servicio Civil]).

Nov 30 2016

The Congress of the Republic approves the Final Agreement.

Nov 30 2016

The government begins activities on health insurance for FARC-EP members who are at the Temporary Pre-Grouping Points (Decree 1937 of 2016).

Implementation Phase

2016 - present

With the endorsement of the Final Agreement through the Congress of the Republic, the Implementation phase of the Agreement began on December 1, 2016. Among the first milestones of the implementation, the Commission for Monitoring, Promotion and Verification of Implementation (CSIVI) and the National Council for Reincorporation (CNR) were created as joint government and FARC-EP bodies to monitor the implementation process. 

Dec 1 2016

The parties officially announce the start of the Final Agreement’s implementation (D-Day) after its endorsement.

Dec 7 2016

Creation of the Commission for Monitoring, Promoting, and Verifying the Implementation of the Final Agreement (CSIVI, in Spanish) (Decree 1995 of 2016).

Dec 7 2016

Creation of the National Reincorporation Council (Decree 2027 of 2016).

Dec 13 2016

The Constitutional Court approves Legislative Act 01 of 2016 on the legal instruments to accelerate the implementation of the Final Agreement; among others, the “fast track” mechanism.

Dec 30 2016

Law 1820 of 2016, “Whereby provisions on amnesty, pardon, and special criminal treatment and other provisions are issued,” is passed.

Jan 29 2017

FARC-EP members begin moving towards the local zones (zonas veredales) to begin the laying down of arms process.

Feb 3 2017

The National Commission on Security Guarantees, part of the Final Agreement, is created through Decree 154 of 2017.

Mar 1 2017

The United Nations Mission begins its work to verify the FARC-EP’s process of laying down arms.

Mar 15 2017

The CSIVI provides guidelines to launch the Special High-Level Forum with Ethnic Peoples (IEANPE, for its Spanish acronym) to monitor the Final Agreement’s implementation.

Apr 4 2017

Legislative Act 01 of 2017 creates a title of transitory provisions to the Constitution to end the armed conflict and build a stable and lasting peace, in addition to issuing other provisions.

Apr 5 2017

The Truth, Coexistence, and Non-Recurrence Commission is organized through Decree 588 of 2017.

Apr 5 2017

The Special Unit for the Search for Persons Deemed as Missing in the context of and due to the armed conflict is organized through Decree 589 of 2017.

Apr 11 2017

The CSIVI provides guidelines to launch the Special Forum for the Implementation of the Gender-Based Approach and its objectives.

May 26 2017

Creation of the National Council for Peace, Reconciliation, and Coexistence, through Decree 885 of 2017.

May 28 2017

The Development Programs with a Territorial Focus (PDETs, for their Spanish acronym) are created through Decree 893 of 2017.

May 29 2017

The Comprehensive Security System for the Exercise of Politics is created through Decree 895 of 2017.

May 29 2017

The National Comprehensive Program for the Substitution of Crops Used for Illicit Purposes is established through Decree 896 of 2017.

May 29 2017

Measures are adopted to facilitate implementing the comprehensive rural reform laid out in the Peace Agreement in terms of land, specifically the procedure for access and land titling and the Land Fund (Decree 902 of 2017).

Jul 6 2017

The process of FARC-EP members individually laying down their arms begins.

Jul 28 2017

Decree 1274 of 2017 extends the duration of the Transitional Local Zones for Normalization (ZVTNs, for their Spanish acronym) and some Transitional Local Points for Normalization (PTNs, for their Spanish acronym).

Aug 15 2017

The process of removing the containers of FARC-EP weapons in the local zones (zonas veredales) is finalized.

Sep 22 2017

The process of disabling and destroying the weapons to build three agreed-upon monuments begins.

Dec 18 2017

The Prevention and Warning System for Rapid Response (Early Warning System) is established through Decree 2124 of 2017.

Mar 11 2018

Former FARC combatants exercise their right to vote in Congressional elections for the first time.

Mar 11 2018

Legislative elections take place and the FARC participate as a political party, obtaining 52.532 votes for the Senate and 32.636 for the House of Representatives.

Mar 15 2018

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace effectively begins its operations.

Apr 9 2018

The Attorney General’s Office captures Jesús Santrich, delegate of the FARC-EP during the peace negotiations, with the end of extradicting him to the United States for drug trafficking crimes.

Jul 4 2018

Opening of Case No. 1 in the Special Jurisdiction for Peace: “Hostage-Taking and Other Serious Deprivations of Liberty”.

Jul 9 2018

The Political Opposition Statute is adopted through Law 1909 of 2018.

Jul 10 2018

Opening of Case No. 2 in the Special Jurisdiction for Peace: “Territorial Situation in the Ricaurte, Tumaco, and Barbacoas Municipalities of Nariño”.

Jul 17 2018

Opening of Case No. 3 in the Special Jurisdiction for Peace: “Deaths Illegitimately Presented as Casualties in Combat by State Agents”.

Jul 17 2018

The Comprehensive Security and Protection Program for communities and organizations in the territories is created through Decree 660 of 2018.

Jul 18 2018

Law 1922 of 2018 establishes the JEP’s guiding principles, as well as the provisions and general rules that will govern actions within the entity.

Jul 20 2018

For the first time in Congress, members of the FARC political party occupy ten seats (5 in the House of Representatives and 5 in the Senate) for two legislative periods (8 years).

Aug 2 2018

The Ministry of Mines and Energy adopts the 2018-2031 National Rural Electrification Plan.

Aug 3 2018

The Ministry of Transport adopts the National Tertiary Roads Plan for Regional Transformation.

Sep 11 2018

Opening of Case No. 4 in the Special Jurisdiction for Peace: “Territorial Situation in the Urabá Region”.

Nov 8 2018

Opening of Case No. 5 in the Special Jurisdiction for Peace: “Territorial Situation in the Northern Cauca and Southern Valle de Cauca Regions”.

Dec 10 2018

The counter-monument “Fragmentos” from the artist Doris Salcedo in Bogotá is inaugurated. It was built from the melting of 8.994 weapons handed voluntarily by the former FARC-EP and with the participation of victims of sexual violence of the armed conflict.

Feb 26 2019

Opening of Case No. 6 in the Special Jurisdiction for Peace: “Victimization of Patriotic Union Members”.

Mar 1 2019

Opening of Case No. 7 in the Special Jurisdiction for Peace “Recruitment and Use of Children in the Armed Conflict”.

May 9 2019

The Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies adopts the National Rural Connectivity Plan.

May 15 2019

The Special Peace Jurisdiction applies the non-extradiction guarantee for Jesús Santrich and orders the Attorney General’s Office his immediate release through Auto SRT-AE-030/2019.

Aug 29 2019

The dissidence group of the FARC called Segunda Marquetalia is founded, led by Iván Márquez and Jesús Santrich, negotiators of the peace process, together with other FARC-EP commanders.

Sep 13 2019

The Special Peace Jurisdiction excludes Jesús Santrich from the transitional justice system derived from the Peace Agreement after his voluntary act of abandoning the reincorporation process and his seat as a congressman.

Dec 24 2019

The Reincorporation Route is created through Resolution 4309 of 2019.

Jan 15 2020

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development adopts the National Plan for Promoting the Marketing of Produce from Rural, Family-Run, and Community-Based Economies.

Apr 24 2020

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development adopts the National Irrigation and Drainage Plan for Rural, Family-Run, and Community-Based Economies.

Sep 1 2020

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development adopts the Plan for Supporting and Consolidating Income Generation in Rural, Family-Run, and Community-Based Economies.

Dec 29 2020

The Ministry of Labor adopts the Progressive Plan for Social Protection and Safeguarding of the Rights of Rural Workers.

Dec 29 2020

The Ministry of Labor adopts the National Plan to Promote the Rural Solidarity and Cooperative Economy.

Jan 8 2021

The Victims and Land Restitution Law is extended for 10 years.

Mar 9 2021

The Ministry of Housing adopts the National Plan for Drinking Water Supply and Basic Rural Sanitation.

Mar 31 2021

The Strategic Security and Protection Plan for individuals in the reincorporation process is published.

Apr 30 2021

Seven members of the Secretariat of the former FARC-EP, after being charged by the JEP for the crime of kidnapping through Auto 019 of 2021, publicly accept their responsibility.

Aug 2 2021

The Ministry of Housing adopts the National Plan for Building and Improving Rural Social Interest Housing (PNVISR, for its Spanish acronym).

Aug 25 2021

Legislative Act 02 of 2021, creating 16 special peace seats in Congress for victims of the armed conflict, is passed after more than two years in Congress and a Constitutional Court review.

Oct 1 2021

The Constitutional Court extends the Truth Commission’s mandate until June 2022.

Oct 13 2021

The OAS Mission to Support the Peace Process (MAPP, for its Spanish acronym) signs the Eighth Protocol of Support, extending its mission for three years.

Nov 23 2021

António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, visits Colombia to verify the status and implementation of the Peace Agreement five years after its signing.

Nov 24 2021

The fifth anniversary of the Peace Agreement’s signing is commemorated.

Nov 28 2021

The United States government removes the FARC from its list of terrorist organizations.

Dec 12 2021

The Comunes political party endorses 41 congressional candidates for the Senate and the House of Representatives, including 18 women and 25 former combatants.

Dec 22 2021

The National Registry Office (Registraduría) presents the official list of candidates registered to run for the Special Transitory Peace Voting Districts. A total of 398 registered candidates will compete for 16 seats in the House of Representatives.

Jan 21 2022

Emilio Archila, the Presidential Advisor for Stabilization and Consolidation, reports on implementation progress to the UN Security Council. The Security Council reiterates its support for the Peace Agreement’s implementation.

Jan 28 2022

The Constitutional Court declares an unconstitutional state of affairs regarding the security guarantees promised to individuals in the process of reincorporation under the Peace Agreement.

Mar 13 2022

In the 2022 legislative elections, the election of the 16 seats of the Special Transitory Peace Electoral Districts for the House of Representatives is held. The National Registry Office (Registraduría) reports a vote of approximately 553.664 people out of 1.246.634 eligible voters.

Apr 12 2022

President Ivan Duque addresses the UN Security Council, in the framework of the presentation of the quarterly report of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia.

Apr 26 2022

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) holds a public hearing for the recognition of responsibility of 10 senior members of the security forces, among them a general and 4 colonels, in addition to a third civilian, charged in Case 03 called “Deaths unlawfully presented as casualties by State agents”, specifically in the Catatumbo region.

Jun 21 2022

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) holds a public hearing for the recognition of responsibility of 7 former members of the FARC-EP secretariat, for the crime of kidnapping, charged in Case 01 called “Hostage-taking and serious deprivation of liberty committed by the FARC-EP”.

Jun 28 2022

The Truth Commission publicly releases, at the Jorge Eliecer Gaitán Theatre in Bogotá, its final report on what happened during Colombia’s armed conflict.

Jul 15 2022

Opening of Case No. 10 in the Special Jurisdiction for Peace “Crimes not eligible for amnesty, committed by members of the ex Farc-EP, because of, or in direct or indirect connection with the Colombian armed conflict”.

Aug 8 2022

The Follow-up and Monitoring Committee to support the recommendations of the Truth Commission’s Final Report is established.

Aug 16 2022
Aug 30 2022

Opening of Case No. 08 in the Special Jurisdiction for Peace: “Crimes committed by members of the public force, other State agents, or in association with paramilitary groups, or civilian third parties, due to, on occasion, or in direct or indirect relation to the Colombian armed conflict”.

Sep 13 2022

Opening of Case No. 09 in the Special Jurisdiction for Peace: “Crimes against ethnic peoples and territories in the armed conflict”.

Oct 2 2022

The Government reactivates the Commission for Monitoring, Promotion and Verifying the Implementation of the Final Agreement (CSIVI) and the National Commission for Security Guarantees (CNGS).

Nov 25 2022

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace issues the first resolution against the former Farc secretariat members in macro case 01: “Hostage-taking and serious deprivation of liberty committed by the FARC-EP”.

Dec 30 2022

The Unit for the Implementation of the Final Agreement to End the Armed Conflict and Build a Stable and Lasting Peace is created within the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace, through Decree 2467 of 2022.

Jan 11 2023

The UN Security Council extends the mandate of the Verification Mission in Colombia to include verification of the implementation of Point 1, related to the Integral Rural Reform, and Point 6.2, related to the Chapter on Ethnic Perspectives.

Jan 25 2023

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) begins the trial phase against seven members of the FARC-EP Secretariat under Case 01: “Hostage-taking and serious deprivation of liberty committed by the FARC-EP”.

Feb 6 2023

The Government includes in its National Development Plan 2022-2026, the Four Year Plan for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement with concrete actions and goals.

Apr 13 2023

Rodrigo Londoño intervenes at the UN Security Council and asks for support to implement the Peace Agreement.

Jul 19 2023

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), within the framework of Macro Case 05, which prioritises the territorial situation in the region of northern Cauca and southern Valle del Cauca, accredits the Cauca River as a victim of the internal armed conflict.

Jul 27 2023

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights appoints Antonia Urrejola as international human rights expert on obstacles to the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement, following a request from the UN Human Rights Council.

Sep 27 2023

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) opens Macro Case 11, which will investigate gender-based violence that occurred in the context of the Colombian conflict.

Oct 29 2023

In the framework of the territorial elections, 144 signatories of the peace agreement (including 36 women) participate in the electoral contest. Armel Caracas Viveros, a former FARC-EP member, was elected mayor of Cumaribo, in the department of Vichada.

Oct 30 2023

The UN Security Council extends the mandate of the Special Mission to Colombia until 31 October 2024.

Precedents

With the precedent of the confrontation between liberal and conservative guerrillas of the “La Violencia” era in Colombia, the armed confrontation between the Colombian State and the FARC-EP dates back to the 1960s with the formation of the guerrilla group in 1964, and the evolution and deployment of its guerrilla structures in different regions of the country during the following decades. 

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The first intent of a peace process with this group took place during the government of Belisario Betancur (1982-1986), who managed to sign a first ceasefire agreement with the FARC-EP in 1984, known as the Uribe Accords. Subsequently, there were at least two more moments of public negotiation between the Colombian government and the FARC-EP: (i) between 1991-1992, a process that took place in Caracas and Tlaxcala and (ii) between 1998 and 2002 (referred to as the Caguán process and named after the municipality in the south of the country where a military clearance took place to facilitate these talks). There were also some exploratory exchanges with this guerrilla group during the government of Álvaro Uribe (2002-2010).

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Infographic

Previous peace negotiations attempts with the FARC-EP

Learn more about the previous efforts by governments the had tried to end the conflict with the FARC-EP through a negotiated solution, since 1982: the duration of the dialogues, the role of the international community, the agenda for the conversations and the results.