The Special Jurisdiction for Peace in Bogotá charged 27 former members of the FARC secretariat and state major for war crimes [1].
This legal action represents a critical step in Colombia's transitional-justice process. By holding the highest-ranking guerrilla leaders accountable, the state aims to provide reparations to victims and establish a historical record of the conflict [4], [5].
The JEP courtroom in Bogotá served as the venue for the proceedings [2], [1]. The charges involve more than 70 alleged criminal acts [3]. These crimes include massacres, disappearances, and sexual violence [1], [4]. Additionally, the court specifically cited the 1995 murder of Álvaro Gómez Hurtado as part of the imputation [1], [4].
The decision was formalized on Sept. 16, 2024 [5]. While the number of individuals involved in the process varies across reports — with some sources citing seven members of the final command and others noting 27 comparecientes [6], [7] — the legal proceedings target the core leadership of the former insurgency [1].
As part of the sentencing phase, the former secretariat received an eight-year prison sentence [4]. This penalty is integrated into a system of alternative sanctions designed to balance justice with the requirements of the peace agreement [5]. The process includes testimony from leaders such as Rodrigo Londoño, also known as "Timochenko," regarding attacks on the Caño Limón-Coveñas pipeline and massacres carried out by the Magdalena Medio bloc [3].
“The charges involve more than 70 alleged criminal acts.”
The sentencing of FARC's top leadership underscores the tension between peace-building and punitive justice. By utilizing alternative sentences and the JEP's specialized framework, Colombia is attempting to prioritize truth-telling and victim reparations over traditional long-term incarceration, a move essential for maintaining the stability of the 2016 peace accords.
