Day: 26 November. Location: Dibulla, La Guajira district. Name: Nicodemos Luna Mosquera, leader of the Tibu Workers’ Union. Day: 14 March. Location: Popayán, province of Cauca. Name: Miller Corea, social leader of Cauca’s indigenous communities. Day: September 21. Location: Nueva América village, northern Colombia. Name: Frai David Torres Marroquín, treasurer of the Community Action Board. Day: 19 February. Location: Guachucal, Nariño department. Name: Saulo Moreno, indigenous leader. Day: May 15. Location: Santander de Quilichao, province of Cauca. Name: Édgar Quintero, social leader. He was determined to return the lands to the victims of the armed conflict.
The full list consists of 162 names, the number of social leaders and human rights defenders killed in Colombia this year so far. The latest entries include Francisco Sarco and Carlitos Urágama, members of the Emberá Playa Bonita Indigenous Guard, and the Victims Association from the department, in the registry kept by Indepaz, the Institute for Studies for Development and Peace. On November 11, gunmen raided a home, taking lives in front of family members. The pattern of a social leader being brutally murdered at a rate of about one every two days is a brutal reality in Colombia, and it stands as a deep societal issue: roughly 1,400 people have died since the government and the FARC signed peace in 2016.
a structural problem
Why are these leaders being targeted? Many claim land rights and demand restitution. They may be driven from their lands, or requested not to cultivate coca on those plots. The collision of economic interests, agricultural policy, and illegal activity creates a backdrop to land disputes that often ends in violence against those who defend a claim. Jorge Ernesto Roa, a Constitutional Law professor at the University of Externado de Colombia, notes that in a nation with many illicit dynamics, armed groups impose their rules in various ways. He explains that past years saw numerous murders by FARC members counted as social leader killings, whether in the sense of being victims of conflict or victims of its violence. He adds that the removal of barriers to illegal activity frequently involves violent acts against those standing in the way. Coca base crops and routes tend to be located in lands that invite conflict, and those who oppose invasions or exploitation face severe risks.
Leaders face pressures from powerful networks exploiting the vacuum left by peace accords. Piedad Bonnett, an author and columnist for El Espectador, describes environmentalists and traditional miners as targets who defend ecosystems and local livelihoods against multinational interests. She highlights that corruption within local authorities increases the vulnerability of those who speak up and defend their communities.
With a death toll approaching two days per life, advocates call for stronger protection from the state. Yet these leaders have often faced stigma and suspicion. Roa notes that the state has historically shown limited appreciation for social mediators like unions, NGOs, and community associations, especially when they become part of a wider political dialogue. They are sometimes portrayed as guerrilla allies or conspirators, a label that undermines their legitimate work to safeguard land rights and peasant welfare.
The public perception of social leaders as troublemakers reflects a broader problem. A significant portion of society recognizes that 1,300 people perished because they defended land or sought to secure peasant rights. This reality reveals a disturbing societal angle—one that risks normalizing violence against those who speak for communities and protect natural resources.
another list: ancient warriors
The pattern extends beyond current leaders to ex-combatants who were once part of FARC. The continuity of violence, paired with political rhetoric around the peace process, creates a climate that can foster impunity. Critics argue that official discourse toward the peace agreement can inadvertently undermine protections for those involved. Some observers believe the government has not fully honored the accords or applied them effectively, which leaves many vulnerable.
Governance concerns persist as questions arise about how the state responds to threats against ex-combatants and active social leaders. International bodies have urged action, and courts have begun to explore extending protections to social leaders within related legal frameworks. The core aim remains to address structural weaknesses that threaten the safety of community guardians.
Name: Deisy Sotelo, community leader. Day: 29 January. Location: Algeria, Cauca province. Name: Efrén Ramos, community leader. Day: 2 February. Location: Puerto Leguizamo, Putumayo district. Name: Gustavo Torres, peasant leader. Day: February 26. Location: Tibu, Norte de Santander region. Name: María José Arciniegas, indigenous leader. Day: April 30. Location: Puerto Leguizamo. The community notes that he was 27 years old and was found wounded outside the town after being forcibly removed by armed men.