Colombia: Duque to be sworn in August 7 amid protests

Event

President-Elect Iván Duque will be sworn in on Tuesday, August 7, in the capital Bogotá. He is expected to arrive at the Palacio de San Carlos shortly before 15:00 (local time) before walking to Plaza de Bolívar, where the ceremony will take place. Increased security and crowded conditions are likely in the vicinity.

Protests organized by a coalition of political parties who have declared themselves in opposition to Duque are set to take place throughout Colombia to coincide with the inauguration. Demonstrations are currently set to take place in the following cities:

• Bogotá: Plaza La Hoja, 12:00
• Cali: Ermita de Cali Church, 13:00 
• Santa Marta: Parque Bolívar, 17:00
• Villavicencio: Plaza Centenario, 17:00
• Bucaramanga: Gorda de Botero, 13:00
• Barrancabermeja: Parque Camilo Torres, 12:00
• Cartagena: Camellón de los Mártires, 16:00
• Sogamoso: Plazoleta Iraka, 13:00
• Palmira: Parque Factorial, 10:00
• Medellín: Parque de los Deseos, 10:00
• Ibagué: Parque Murillo Toro, 13:00
  

Context

Duque of the right-wing Centro Democrático party soundly defeated Gustavo Petro of the left-wing Movimiento Progresistas in the run-off election held in mid-June. Duque has promised to revisit the controversial 2016 peace deal made with the FARC guerrilla group and to increase sanctions on the former rebels; this could potentially push more demobilized guerillas to take up arms. The peace deal, ratified in November 2016, officially ended an armed conflict that left more than 220,000 people dead over five decades.

Advice

Individuals in Colombia are advised to avoid all protests as a precaution.