Colombia election story is honestly feeling less like normal politics and more like people being forced to vote while fear is sitting right outside their homes . And when security becomes main issue before presidential election,it says a lot about what ordinary people are facing.
One story that really hits hard is of Edilma Martinez Flores,a displaced person from Cali . She said,"My brother was murdered for not paying an extortion payment...in front of his children," and that line itself is enough to understand how brutal situation has become.
And this is not some isolated pain only . Forced displacements have surged in recent years because armed groups and criminal organizations are becoming more active again in many areas . People are leaving homes not because they want better jobs or new life,but because staying itself has become dangerous.
Colombia already has very heavy history here . Over six decades of violence involving armed groups,state forces and drug cartels has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths . Now recent reports say illegal armed group memberships have nearly doubled within last five years,which is not small thing ah.
Groups like Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) dissidents,the National Liberation Army (ELN),and Clan del Golfo have expanded influence over rural territories linked to drug trafficking and illegal mining . So when politicians talk about peace or force,people are not hearing theory,they are thinking about their own villages,families and roads .
Few things standing out clearly in this election mood:
- Forced displacements rose by 300% from 2024 to 2025.
- Iván Cepeda advocates for negotiation,while Abelardo de la Espriella pushes for military action .
- Trump's endorsement of de la Espriella raises concerns about foreign intervention.
And tbh,the contrast between candidates is very sharp . Iván Cepeda,a left-wing senator,supports current government's total peace strategy and wants dialogue with armed groups . But critics say this approach has failed badly because criminal factions used ceasefires to grow stronger and expand territory.
On other side,Abelardo de la Espriella,a right-wing businessman,is talking tough . He wants mega-prisons,end negotiations with armed groups and directly confront criminals . For voters who are tired and scared,this kind of hardline talk can sound like quick relief,even if bigger consequences are unclear .
But this is where things get uncomfortable . Isabelita Mercado Pineda,an advisor for peace and reconciliation,says increase in forced displacements shows government strategies have failed to deal with root issues properly . And people living through this violence don't have luxury of waiting for perfect policy debate.
So now Colombia's presidential election is not just about who gives better speeches . It is about whether people believe talks can still work,or whether they want state to hit back harder . And somewhere between these two choices,ordinary families are still packing bags,leaving homes,and wondering who will actually protect them…
