Acuerdo No. 9 - Funciones de Países Garantes y Entidades Acompañantes

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Country/entity: Colombia
Region: Americas
Agreement name: Acuerdo No. 9 - Funciones de Países Garantes y Entidades Acompañantes
Date: 25 May 2025
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Colombian Conflict (1964 - )
The Colombian conflict is really a set of conflicts and the peace agreements reflect both different processes relating to different conflict groups and dyads, and processes taking place at different times in a complex peace process history. The Colombian civil war has its roots in the late 1940s and the violent infighting between liberal and the conservative factions. Emerging from the liberal tradition with a thorough grounding in nationalist communist ideology, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People's Army (FARC) began its armed insurrection against the Colombian government in 1964. Other left-wing guerrillas emerged as well, most notably the socialist/populist M-19, which would later be integrated into the formal political system in the peace process of 1990s; the National Liberation Army (ELN), which has strong roots in liberation theology, and the Maoist Ejército Popular de Liberación (EPL) (also part of the 1990 process, less successfully). Several stages of peace processes were undertaken by the various sides, which were further complicated by the emergence of right-wing paramilitary ‘self-defence’ forces. The peace agreement between the Colombian government under President Uribe and the main alliance of the paramilitary groups, the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC), concluded in 2005 and is still heavily disputed as several remnants are still active, but now subsumed under the heading ‘Bacrim’ (Bandas criminales). In addition, FARC and ELN maintain a military presence, but both demonstrate a strong interest in completing successful peace negotiations with the government, with the most recent agreements being between FARC and the Government.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Colombia VII - Petro Peace Dialogues with the Coordinadora Nacional Ejército Bolivariano (CNEB)
Parties: For the Government of the Republic of Colombia
Armando Novoa García
Chief Negotiator
Gloria Arias
Jaime Ariza
Parmenio Cuellar

For the National Coordination of the Bolivarian Army
Walter Mendoza
Chief Negotiator
Andrés Rojas
Andrés Guerrero
Andrés Allende
Bladimir
Iván Patía
Jairo Marín
Tocayo
Uriel Pardo
Third parties: As witnesses and depositaries signed the Guarantor Countries
Carlos Pino, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Axel Storen Wedén, Kingdom of Norway
Phillipp Lustenberger, Swiss Confederation
Angela Bargellini, Delegate of the Special Representative of the General Secretary of the United Nations in Colombia
Monsignor Héctor Fabio Henao, Delegate of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia
Description: This agreement formalizes the roles of guarantor countries (Norway, Venezuela, and Switzerland) and permanent accompanying entities (the UN Secretary-General's office and the Episcopal Conference of Colombia) within the Peace Dialogues Table between the Colombian government and the CNEB. The guarantor countries are tasked with acting as depositaries and witnesses to agreements, providing political support and good offices, and physically accompanying the CNEB delegation during transfers. The delegations commit to keeping guarantors and accompaniers informed and consulting them on process-related matters.

Agreement document: CO_250525_Acuerdo_No._9_-_Funciones_de_Países_Garantes_y_Entidades_Acompañantes_EN (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): CO_250525_Acuerdo No. 9 - Funciones de Países Garantes y Entidades Acompañantes (opens in new tab)| Download PDF
Source of document: https://www.consejeriacomisionadadepaz.gov.co/Dialogos_con_la-Coordinadora-Nacional-Ejercito-Bolivariano/Documents/Acuerdo-9.pdf

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: 2. Regarding accompanying institutions and organisations
Given the good offices and importance of the accompaniment of both the Secretary-General of the United Nations - UN, and the Episcopal Conference of Colombia, they are invited to participate as ‘Permanent Accompaniers’ of the Peace Dialogues Table.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: 2. Regarding accompanying institutions and organisations
Given the good offices and importance of the accompaniment of both the Secretary-General of the United Nations - UN, and the Episcopal Conference of Colombia, they are invited to participate as ‘Permanent Accompaniers’ of the Peace Dialogues Table.
...
As witnesses and depositaries signed the Guarantor Countries
...
Angela Bargellini, Delegate of the Special Representative of the General Secretary of the United Nations in Colombia
Other international signatory: As witnesses and depositaries signed the Guarantor Countries
Carlos Pino, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Axel Storen Wedén, Kingdom of Norway
Phillipp Lustenberger, Swiss Confederation
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.

AGREEMENT NO.

FUNCTIONS OF GUARANTOR COUNTRIES AND ACCOMPANYING ENTITIES

PEACE DIALOGUES TABLE BETWEEN THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND THE NATIONAL COORDINATION OF THE BOLIVARIAN ARMY

In view of the fundamental role they have played in the Peace Dialogues Table, the guarantor countries and accompanying entities record the following functions that the delegations have agreed upon:

1. Regarding the guarantor countries

The delegations request to the guarantor countries, the Kingdom of Norway, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Swiss Confederation, to participate in the Peace Dialogues Table under the following parameters:

a) The guarantor countries will form part of the Roundtable upon accepting the invitation agreed upon by the delegations, representing each of their countries, which define, in a sovereign and free manner, their diplomatic contribution to the construction of a negotiated solution to the violence in the territories covered by the Roundtable.

b) The guarantor countries may maintain contact and relations with each of the delegations.

c) The delegations request the guarantor countries to act as depositaries and witnesses to the agreements, signing them in that capacity, based on the principles of independence, objectivity, impartiality, and confidentiality.

They also request the guarantor countries, according to their capacities, to provide political support, give recommendations and protect the development of the process and the agenda, at the request of the delegations, maintain bilateral relations with both parties, contribute with their good offices in times of crisis or controversy, and cooperate with technical assistance within the framework of the roundtable.

d) The guarantor countries are requested to participate in and provide ongoing support for the overall dynamics of the Roundtable and the development of the work or deliberations in the working sessions and, if requested by the delegations and depending on the capacities of the guarantor countries, in the subcommittees established by the Roundtable.

e) Physically accompany the CNEB Delegation during different transfers, insertions or extractions, according to the Roundtable protocols, as well as in cases required by the Government Delegation.

2. Regarding accompanying institutions and organisations

Given the good offices and importance of the accompaniment of both the Secretary-General of the United Nations - UN, and the Episcopal Conference of Colombia, they are invited to participate as ‘Permanent Accompaniers’ of the Peace Dialogues Table.

Like the guarantor countries, they will be depositaries and witnesses of the agreements and will support specific actions agreed upon by the delegations, maintaining due confidentiality and in accordance with their mission.

Likewise, the delegations request the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Colombia to provide political, diplomatic, logistical, and operational assistance, subject to the availability of resources and the legal conditions for the development of the dialogues and the strict implementation of the protocols, if required.

To this end, both parties will send the UN Secretary-General a formal letter with the invitation and the corresponding requests.

3. The delegations undertake to:

a) Keep the guarantor countries and accompanying entities informed about the progress of the process.

b) Consult with the guarantor countries and accompanying entities on matters related to the Peace Dialogues Table and the process involving them, including security-related issues.

Signed in Inda Zabaleta, on 25 May 2025.

For the Government of the Republic of Colombia

Armando Novoa García

Chief Negotiator

Gloria Arias

Jaime Ariza

Parmenio Cuellar

For the National Coordination of the Bolivarian Army

Walter Mendoza

Chief Negotiator

Andrés Rojas

Andrés Guerrero

Andrés Allende

Bladimir

Iván Patía

Jairo Marín

Tocayo

Uriel Pardo

As witnesses and depositaries signed the Guarantor Countries

Carlos Pino, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Axel Storen Wedén, Kingdom of Norway

Phillipp Lustenberger, Swiss Confederation

Angela Bargellini, Delegate of the Special Representative of the General Secretary of the United Nations in Colombia

Monsignor Héctor Fabio Henao, Delegate of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia