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US Designates Colombia’s Clan del Golfo as Terrorist Group, Raising Concerns for Peace Talks

Bogota, Colombia – The United States Department of State has officially designated the Gaitanist Army of Colombia (EGC), also known as Clan del Golfo, as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization” (FTO). The move allows US courts to sanction individuals and organizations linked to the powerful criminal group, known for drug trafficking, illegal mining, and extortion.

“Based in Colombia, Clan del Golfo is a violent and powerful criminal organisation with thousands of members responsible for terrorist attacks against public officials, law enforcement and military personnel, and civilians in Colombia,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.

While the designation aims to disrupt the EGC’s operations and financial networks, analysts warn it could have serious repercussions for ongoing peace negotiations between the group and the Colombian government, mediated by Qatar. A peace process aimed at the EGC’s disarmament was agreed on December 5.

Experts fear that the FTO label will complicate discussions, particularly regarding extradition guarantees, a key point of contention. The designation effectively eliminates the possibility of the Colombian state providing guarantees that it will not extradite EGC leaders to a US prison, according to Gerson Arias, conflict and security investigator at the Ideas for Peace Foundation.

A breakdown in talks could intensify the conflict, as Elizabeth Dickinson, deputy director for Latin America at International Crisis Group said: “If peace talks were to end … I do think that that would lead to an escalation in violence across the north of the country, particularly.”

Dickinson noted that the FTO designation does not preclude peace talks, citing the successful 2016 deal with the FARC, which was then a US-designated FTO. She stressed that Colombia needs to reassess how to proceed with the peace talks given this new development.

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