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The Debrief: Colombia’s narco battleground

Factal September 2, 2025

The image is an aerial view of a sprawling town surrounded by lush, green mountainous terrain. In the foreground, numerous buildings and streets form a dense urban area with a mix of residential and commercial structures. Roofs vary in color, adding a patchwork effect. Beyond the town, expansive rolling hills and mountains dominate the landscape, covered with dense green foliage. The sky above is overcast with thick gray clouds, but a streak of brighter light peeks through near the horizon, creating a contrast between the darkened sky and the illuminated landscape.

As Colombia’s former guerrilla and paramilitary groups battle for control of territory lush with narcotic crops, gold, minerals, and illicit trade routes, millions of Colombians…