Colombia’s presidential election, a race shadowed by the nation’s enduring civil conflict, has drawn international attention as the United Kingdom calls for renewed peace negotiations. The war, which has raged for over five decades, involving state forces, leftist guerrillas, and paramilitaries, now dominates the political discourse ahead of the vote. With candidates divided on how to handle the violence and the fragile 2016 peace accord with the FARC, the outcome could reshape Colombia’s future. The UK’s intervention, led by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, urges both sides to return to the negotiating table, warning that continued bloodshed threatens regional stability.
The candidates, leftist Gustavo Petro and conservative Rodolfo Hernández, offer starkly different visions. Petro, a former guerrilla himself, promises to fully implement the peace deal and open talks with remaining rebel groups, including the ELN. Hernández, a populist billionaire, advocates a hardline military approach, criticising the accord as too lenient. The urban electorate, weary of violence in cities like Bogotá and Medellín, leans towards Petro. But rural voters, scarred by FARC extortion and kidnappings, back Hernández. Polls show a dead heat, with the campaign marred by assassination attempts and disinformation campaigns powered by AI-generated content.
Technology is a double-edged sword here. Social media amplifies polarisation, while encrypted messaging apps help citizens organise peace marches. Yet the same tools enable propaganda. As a tech observer, I see a ‘Black Mirror’ scenario: deepfakes of candidates promising unrealistic peace or war. The UK’s role matters, but tech platforms must step up. Digital sovereignty for Colombia means more than data control; it means algorithmic transparency. Without it, the civil war will be fought not just with bullets but with bots.