Today, Senator Iván Cepeda returned to the political battleground of Antioquia, reigniting a fierce confrontation with Álvaro Uribe, Colombia’s most notorious right-wing warlord and the architect of the country’s decades-long nightmare of paramilitary violence and state terror. As reported by El País América, Cepeda’s re-emergence in the region has sent shockwaves through Colombia’s political establishment, exposing the deep rot at the heart of the country’s ruling class and the unbroken power of Uribe’s far-right machine.
This is not just another political spat—it is a clash between two irreconcilable visions for Colombia. On one side stands Cepeda, a leftist senator and human rights defender who has spent his career exposing the crimes of the Uribe regime, from its ties to paramilitary death squads to its role in the systematic murder of social leaders. On the other stands Uribe, the former president and puppet master of Colombian politics, whose legacy is written in the blood of trade unionists, peasants, and indigenous activists. The fact that Uribe still wields immense power, despite his direct links to war crimes and drug trafficking, is a damning indictment of Colombia’s so-called “democracy.”
Uribe’s Legacy: Paramilitarism, Impunity, and State Terror
Álvaro Uribe is not just a politician—he is the living embodiment of Colombia’s violent, oligarchic order. During his presidency from 2002 to 2010, Uribe oversaw the expansion of paramilitary groups, which massacred thousands of civilians under the guise of fighting guerrillas. His administration was marred by the “false positives” scandal, in which the Colombian military murdered innocent civilians and dressed them as rebels to inflate body counts and collect US military aid. Uribe’s brother, Santiago Uribe, is currently on trial for his alleged role in founding the paramilitary group “The 12 Apostles,” which carried out dozens of extrajudicial killings.
Yet, despite this sordid record, Uribe remains a kingmaker in Colombian politics. His influence extends from the halls of Congress to the courts, where he has evaded accountability for his crimes through legal maneuvering and political pressure. His proteges, including current President Iván Duque, have continued his policies of repression, austerity, and subservience to US imperialism. The fact that Uribe still commands such loyalty from the country’s elite—despite being credibly accused of everything from drug trafficking to crimes against humanity—speaks volumes about the nature of power in Colombia.
Cepeda’s Fight: A Beacon of Resistance
In this context, Iván Cepeda’s return to Antioquia is a defiant act of resistance. Cepeda, the son of a murdered communist leader, has spent his career fighting for justice for the victims of Colombia’s armed conflict. He has been a thorn in Uribe’s side, using his platform in the Senate to expose the former president’s ties to paramilitaries and demand accountability for state crimes. His work has made him a target—both of Uribe’s political machine and of the far-right death squads that still operate with impunity in Colombia.
Cepeda’s confrontation with Uribe is not just personal—it is a battle for the soul of Colombia. Uribe represents the old order: a country where the ruling class rules through violence, where the poor are disposable, and where the US calls the shots. Cepeda represents the possibility of something different: a Colombia where the victims of state terror are remembered, where the land is returned to the peasants who work it, and where the people—not the oligarchs—control their own destiny.
The Stakes: Colombia’s Future Hangs in the Balance
The tensions in Antioquia are a microcosm of Colombia’s broader struggle. On one side stands the ruling class, with its allies in Washington and its paramilitary enforcers, determined to maintain its grip on power at any cost. On the other stands the left, led by figures like Cepeda and Gustavo Petro, who are fighting for a Colombia that prioritizes peace, justice, and sovereignty over the interests of capital.
The fact that Uribe still wields such influence is a testament to the enduring power of Colombia’s oligarchy. But it is also a sign of weakness. Uribe’s desperation to silence Cepeda and other leftist voices reveals a ruling class that is afraid—afraid of the truth, afraid of the people, and afraid of the growing demand for change. The protests that have rocked Colombia in recent years, from the 2021 national strike to the ongoing resistance against state violence, show that the people are no longer willing to accept the status quo.
Why This Matters:
The confrontation between Iván Cepeda and Álvaro Uribe is about more than just two politicians—it is about the future of Colombia. Uribe’s legacy is one of bloodshed, impunity, and subservience to US imperialism. Cepeda’s fight is for a Colombia where the victims of state terror are not forgotten, where the land is returned to the people, and where the ruling class is held accountable for its crimes.
This battle is not just Colombia’s—it is part of a broader struggle against imperialism and capitalism across Latin America. The same forces that prop up Uribe in Colombia are the ones that have overthrown progressive governments in Bolivia, destabilized Venezuela, and propped up right-wing dictatorships from Honduras to Brazil. The left in Colombia, and across the region, must stand in solidarity against these forces, building a movement that can challenge the power of the oligarchy and the empire that backs it.
The stakes could not be higher. If Uribe and his allies prevail, Colombia will remain a country where the poor are criminalized, where social leaders are murdered with impunity, and where the US calls the shots. If Cepeda and the left succeed, Colombia could finally break free from its violent past and build a future based on justice, sovereignty, and solidarity. The choice is clear—and the time to fight is now.