A3 PLUS STATEMENT BY
H.E. DR. MICHAEL IMRAN KANU AMBASSADOR/PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
Thank you, Mr. President.
At the outset, let me take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy Nelson Mandela Day. In this Council, where UN Member States have entrusted us with the solemn responsibility of maintaining international peace and security, may we continue our endeavours with resolve, purpose, and the enduring spirit of justice and humanity that Nelson Mandela embodied.
Mr. President,
I have the honour of delivering this statement on behalf of the A3+, namely, Algeria, Guyana, Somalia, and my own country, Sierra Leone.
We thank SRSG Carlos Ruiz Massieu for his briefing and commend him and the UN Monitoring and Verification Mission (UNVMC) team for their dedicated efforts in promoting peace and stability in Colombia. We congratulate him on his new appointment and wish him all the best in his new role in Haiti.
We welcome the participation of His Excellency Mr. Mauricio Jaramillo Jassir, Vice Minister for Multilateral Affairs of Colombia, in today’s meeting.
The A3+ commends the Government and the people of Colombia for their dedication to implementing the 2016 Final Peace Agreement. Their determination to build lasting peace after years of armed conflict is genuinely admirable. These efforts require unity and cooperation at all levels, as well as continued support from the international community.
Despite the numerous challenges that threaten to hinder the implementation of the Peace Agreement, we remain confident that the Agreement provides a solid foundation for lasting peace in Colombia. Consequently, we acknowledge that advancements have been made in reducing violence, promoting political dialogue, and ensuring justice.
Hence, the demonstrated political commitment remains commendable; however, this commitment must evolve into an accelerated implementation process that delivers tangible results and meaningful outcomes, especially as the country enters a critical period of elections, which might exacerbate political tensions and divisions.
Mr. President,
The A3+ welcomes the 8 May 2025 session of the Commission for the Follow-Up, Promotion, and Verification of the Final Agreement (CSIVI) and its four-month action plan, which we believe will enhance joint monitoring and coordination across every chapter of the Final Agreement. This collaborative oversight is indispensable, as implementation remains uneven and critical gaps persist.
We appreciate the Government’s ongoing commitment to prioritising rural reform, promoting socio-economic growth, and tackling the issue of illegal economies. Nevertheless, we are concerned that limited institutional capacities, poor coordination, cumbersome regulations, security threats, and a funding shortfall, among other factors, still hinder these initiatives.
The A3+ welcomes that the Government of Colombia continues to prioritise rural reform. As indicated in the Secretary-General’s report, the land formalisation stands at approximately 3.3 million hectares (including 86,000 hectares recently added) as of May 2025, representing 47 per cent of the seven-million-hectare commitment in the Final Agreement.
We, however, remain concerned that only 7% of the land‑allocation targets for those without land has been achieved, and that administrative and judicial backlogs, as well as the slow implementation and ongoing security concerns, continue to pose significant challenges to the restitution of land to conflict-affected families during the armed conflict. We urge the Government of Colombia to accelerate the process of rural reform further and enhance the coordinated efforts across multiple sectors, which are essential to accelerate the implementation of the 16 national plans for rural reform.
The A3+ welcomes the near‑completion of reintegration plans for almost all former combatants. However, despite encouraging progress in the reintegration process, with the former combatants now having designed their reintegration plans, we urge the Government of Colombia and state bodies to provide the necessary support to ensure their safe and sustainable transition into civilian life. We welcome the government’s plans and ongoing collaboration with partner agencies.
Mr. President,
Despite the A3+ welcoming the new Comprehensive Protection Programme for former-combatants, violence in conflict-affected regions remains alarming. Civilians still face attacks, and clashes between armed groups persist. Therefore, we urge those armed groups to cease all threats and violence, and we call on the government to ensure a strong state presence, along with more effective prevention and protection measures in vulnerable communities, especially in the affected regions. Additionally, we urge the government to ensure the full implementation of the security guarantees outlined in the Final Agreement.
The A3+ commends the continued efforts of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP). We look forward to the much-anticipated restorative sentences expected in the second half of 2025. This will be a significant milestone in Colombia’s transitional justice process. We urge full cooperation of all parties and the provision of adequate resources to transform these sentences into restorative measures that support the victims and foster reconciliation, while ensuring robust protection and legal certainty for all under the SJP’s mandate.
We condemn the surge in violence against communities, social leaders, ex-combatants, and political figures—most recently the attack on Senator and presidential aspirant Miguel Uribe Turbay—and the continued clashes between the ELN, the EMBF, and other illegal armed groups. We remain concerned that the negotiations between the Colombian Government and the ELN are on hold and urge both sides to resume peace talks. We encourage more efforts to seek peace through dialogue with other armed groups and the prioritisation of those discussions to put an end to the violence and alleviate the suffering of the Colombian population, including holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
The A3+ continues to express grave concern about the slow progress and implementation of the Ethnic Chapter, as well as the limited rollout of a programme to strengthen the self-protection mechanisms of ethnic communities.
The Ethnic Chapter is pivotal to the Peace Agreement, safeguarding the rights of Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities and addressing the challenges they face. While noting some progress and improved coordination, we wish to reiterate our call for enhanced efforts to advance the implementation of the Ethnic Chapter, to honour the Agreement and secure lasting peace.
The A3+ strongly condemns the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict—an unequivocal breach of international law. We call on all armed groups to release every child immediately and urge the Government to intensify its efforts to prevent further recruitment across Colombia. We further urge the Government of Colombia and all stakeholders to bolster security measures, dismantle illegal economies, uphold justice, and protect every community affected by this grave concern. We acknowledge the significant progress made in implementing the gender provisions of the Final Agreement and urge continued progress to increase the representation of women in peace, dialogue, and leadership roles, which are crucial for fostering lasting peace and stability.
The A3+further urges the Government to address the constitutional challenges related to the delay in the functioning of the Ministry of Equality, which is vital for implementing UNSC resolution 1325, the Peace Agreement’s gender provisions, and its ethnic chapter.
In conclusion, Mr. President, the A3+ reaffirms its support to the Government and people of Colombia in their pursuit of stability and lasting peace. We commend the UN Verification Mission’s support to the peace process in Colombia. We urge all stakeholders to strengthen their commitment and collaboration towards the full implementation of the Peace Agreement.
I thank you.