Colombian government to sign new peace deal with FARC rebels


The Colombian government announced Tuesday it will sign a new peace deal with FARC rebels on Thursday, in an attempt to permanently end more than 50 years of fighting.
In an October referendum, voters rejected a previous accord between the groups, and this new agreement will be sent to Congress for approval, not a popular vote. The opposition, led by former President Alvaro Uribe, said at the time the original deal did not punish the rebels enough, and Uribe says this new accord still doesn't go far enough.
More than 50 changes have been made to the original peace deal signed in September, and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos says there is no more room for negotiation. "We have the unique opportunity to close this painful chapter in our history that has bereaved and afflicted millions of Colombians for half a century," he said Tuesday in a televised statement. More than 220,000 people have been killed during the conflict, and there are worries that if this deal is not approved, the ceasefire in place could disintegrate.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
The pros and cons of having more than one credit card
Pros and Cons Having more than one card can offer financial benefits — but be careful of overspending
-
How to determine the right car for your needs
the explainer Assess your budget, driving habits and fuel costs
-
How to save on tickets to concerts and other events
The Explainer See your favorite artist without breaking the bank
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents
-
Judge blocks Trump’s Guard deployment in Chicago
Speed Read The president is temporarily blocked from federalizing the Illinois National Guard or deploying any Guard units in the state
-
Trump urges jail for Illinois, Chicago leaders
Speed Read The Texas National Guard begin operations in the Chicago area
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats