This chapter presents an overview of the peacebuilding efforts by the governments of Juan Manuel Santos and Ivan Duque between 2016 and 2019. It uses governmental reports and those from the Office of the Comptroller General reports along with online subsidies issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It establishes key governmental agendas in Colombia including peace negotiations held with illegal armed actors and peacebuilding agendas in targeted places. In addition, the chapter compares the management of international cooperation by the two administrations.

Continuities in the approaches of both governments include, first, the emphasis on state-building and services provision; second, the depoliticization of political violence associated with the killings of social leaders and humanrights defenders by placing the blame in organized crime groups; and third, the aligning of national state projects to international narratives, priorities and support.

The Duque administration, however, actively opposed the peace agreement and the transitional justice provisions left by the preceding Santos government, as well as its more comprehensive approach to the war against drugs. Instead, it favoured a more traditional punitive approach, which latter was nuanced in the face of international pressure. The Duque administration placed a greater emphasis on the provision of security against illegal organizations and state-building than key structural calls suggested in the peace accords. At the same time, the Duque government attempted to fulfil its promise of reforming the peace agreement during the period observed (Dulce Romero, 2020) and lagged in its implementation during his administration (Díaz, 2019; Kroc Institute 2019 and 2020). At the same time, Duque did continue the peacebuilding policies related to security, justice and the protection of human rights followed by his predecessor and was keen in advocating a formal commitment with the implementation of the agreement during the period studied. There was, however, a decrease in the channelling of international funds for peacebuilding purposes in the Duque administration.

Approaches to peace

For the Santos administration, peace meant guaranteeing the rule of law and security, improving access and efficiency of justice mechanisms and promoting respect for human rights and transitional justice (DNP, 2011a). After the re-election of Juan Manuel Santos as president for a second term in 2014, the consolidation of peace became a central goal.