‘Total peace’ or ‘all-out war’? Colombian voters face stark choice as rebel attacks surge

As the country prepares to elect a new president, a fierce debate is raging on how to end the decades-long armed conflict for good

The landmark 2016 peace deal between the Colombian government and the largest insurgent army in Latin America succeeded in some ways: the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) agreed to lay down their weapons, and the violence that had racked the country was substantially reduced.

But the deal alone could not end the decades-long armed conflict for good. Subsequent administrations slow-walked the implementation of the settlement, which was rejected by Farc dissidents and other rebel factions.

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