Stories from Colombia

Authorities have removed more than 600 tons of waste from streams in Barranquilla following the first rains of April. The debris includes single-use plastics, organic matter, large items, pruning waste, and rubble.

Approximately 50 countries met in Colombia this week to discuss methods for transitioning away from fossil fuels. The agreement includes the creation of a scientific panel to study the transition. The text was negotiated outside of the formal atmosphere of the summit. Oil prices rose toward 125 dollars per barrel following comments from Donald Trump regarding a potential prolonged blockage of the Strait of Hormuz. Following five days of debate, 56 nations validated the creation of a specific panel during a final plenary session held yesterday. More than 50 countries met at a summit organized by the Netherlands and Colombia to discuss stopping the use of fossil fuels. Participating nations agreed to develop roadmaps outlining specific actions to be taken in the coming years. The agreement requires countries to document their transition steps on paper.

Former Mines Minister Milcar Acosta expressed concern regarding the potential sale of strategic assets belonging to Ecopetrol and its subsidiaries. President Petro has expressed a dislike for the term privatization. The move comes as Colombia faces debt levels of 13.72% according to Treasury bond issuance reports. The company is looking to sell these international assets to manage financial requirements. The move is being discussed in the context of the Colombian government's financing needs. Analysts are questioning which specific fiscal gaps the government intends to fund with the proceeds. The discussion took place near El Campín stadium in Bogota. The Colombian government requires liquidity following the Council of State's precautionary suspension of 25 billion pesos in pension funds. Julian Martínez was mentioned in relation to the company's debt situation.

Approximately 1,800 citizens in Ibagué have filed complaints regarding the property tax update and cadastral valuation process. Residents claim errors in the valuation and are requesting a new assessment.

A bridge over the Mayo River connecting the departments of Nariño and Cauca may not be reopened as scheduled this Thursday. Transport workers have reported that no construction work is visible in the area despite previous announcements. The bridge is a key link for connecting Nariño to the interior of Colombia. Sebastián Villada previously announced the bridge could open on Thursday. Damage to a bridge on the Panamericana highway is affecting the southwest region of Nariño. The disruption may lead to shortages of medical technologies, including medicines, intravenous fluids, and surgical materials. The impact depends on how many days are required to repair the bridge and the road. This situation threatens the ability to guarantee healthcare processes in the area.

The National Electoral Council confirmed a sanction against Gustavo Petro's 2022 presidential campaign. The council determined the campaign violated electoral spending limits and received irregular financing. The initial resolution involved magistrates Alvaro Hernán Prada and Benjamín Ortiz. The council is currently considering potential modifications to the case following the first-instance declaration. President Petro claimed that political allies Simón Trilidad and Iván Márquez suffered from persecution. Additionally, officials from the Ministry of the Interior were detained at their headquarters following protests by indigenous groups involving approximately 1,500 people. The Colombian Electoral Council has issued a sanction against President Petro's 2022 campaign. This follows reports of risk management corruption involving contracts exceeding 150,000.

The Special Assets Society (SAE) commented on raids conducted at more than 400 establishments of the commercial chain Lilipín. The raids are part of an investigation into alleged smuggling and money laundering. The action was confirmed by Caracol Radio.

Authorities rescued five workers from a sugar mill in Colombia's Cauca department. The workers had been hiding in sugarcane crops near a road to avoid kidnapping by alleged FARC dissident members.

The National Coordination Committee of Alerta Rosa will implement preventive, intervention, and disciplinary functions to facilitate the immediate search for missing minors, youth, and women. This action follows reports from CIRDEC indicating that 127 people were reported missing during 2025. Mariana Quintero from the Control Entity confirmed the initiative aims to improve search efforts for disappeared individuals. The action follows SIRDEC data reporting 127 girls, 95 boys, 1,614 adolescents, and 800 women as missing during 2025. The protocol aims to expedite search efforts for these demographics. Caracol Radio reported that 1,614 adolescents and 800 women are among the missing in Colombia.

No binding agreements were made at a climate conference held in Colombia. Over 50 countries discussed phasing out fossil fuels during the recent sessions. The participating nations are instead proposing various small-scale cessation measures. Participants proposed creating a new scientific panel to consolidate knowledge. Countries also expressed intent to develop a roadmap for transitioning away from oil, coal, and gas. The summit was co-organized by Colombia and the Netherlands. A climate conference focused on transitioning economies away from fossil fuels concluded in Colombia on Thursday. The Netherlands served as a co-organizer for the event. Climate expert Hilde Stroot from Oxfam Novip attended the conference. Stroot expressed satisfaction with the outcome despite the absence of binding agreements.