International Crisis Group
International Crisis Group: Cutting the Links Between Crime and Local Politics: Colombia´s 2011 Elections
Latin America Report N°37, 25 Jul 2011
Deeply entrenched connections between criminal and political actors are a major obstacle to conflict resolution in Colombia. Illegal armed groups seek to consolidate and expand their holds over local governments in the October 2011 governorship, mayoral, departmental assembly and municipal council elections. The national government appears more willing and better prepared than in the past to curb the influence of illegal actors on the elections, but the challenges remain huge.
