PRIF Spotlight 14/20, Peace Research Institute Frankfurt.
Since the Peace Agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrilla at the end of 2016, the murders of social activists have risen significantly. This has not changed even under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. This violence is often attributed solely to the presence of armed, non-state actors and their struggle to control illegal economies. At the same time, however, it has a distinct political side and reflects the way local authoritarian structures function in Colombia. Acknowledging this political logic is important for developing counter-strategies.