Event Summary
The Colombian Ombudsman’s Office warned that during January 2026, there were 12 incidents of mass forced displacement affecting 3,409 people, with Cauca being the department with the highest number of people affected, followed by Norte de Santander, Magdalena, and Antioquia. In addition, seven incidents of confinement were documented, restricting the mobility of 17,651 people in the country, mainly affecting communities in Caquetá, Cauca, Antioquia, Norte de Santander, Putumayo and Chocó. The organisation warned of the continuing humanitarian crisis associated with the armed conflict and the need to strengthen the institutional response to assist displaced or confined communities and prevent the overflow of territorial capacities.
In this pre-election context, rural communities: including indigenous peoples, Afro-descendant communities, and peasant communities; have faced severe restrictions on mobility, threats, and armed social control, which not only exacerbates the humanitarian crisis but also limits the exercise of fundamental rights such as citizen participation, social organisation, and access to basic services.