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Voters will choose between leftwing candidate Iván Cepeda and far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella in the June 21 runoff. The outcome will affect land rights programs and deforestation policies in Colombia's Amazon region.
The GuardianColombian voters will decide on June 21 whether to continue policies supporting peasant reserve zones in the Amazon or shift to a different approach proposed by the far-right candidate.
Peña moved to Guaviare in central Colombia in 1994 to farm after completing military service. He and other residents began the process in 2018 of establishing a peasant reserve zone to secure land rights and limit outside control. The Colombian government approved the request in 2025.
These zones require sustainable development plans and have received government support for conservation activities.
Guaviare lost 350,000 hectares of forest between 2002 and 2025. Many farmers shifted from coca cultivation to cattle raising, which requires more land. In the Guardian of Chiribiquete reserve, nearly half the native forest remains intact. Residents plant native trees and Amazonian fruits while maintaining some cattle operations.
Abelardo de la Espriella won the first round on May 31 by a narrow margin over Iván Cepeda. Farmers in the zones expressed concern that a far-right win could prioritize large-scale agriculture over existing land arrangements. Camilo González Posso stated that a far-right administration could increase violence risks and affect international support for rural programs.
Residents said the next government must address both security and economic needs in rural areas.
Temperatures approached 40 degrees Celsius across much of western and central Europe on June 21, prompting red alerts, rail cancellations, and wildfire evacuations. The heat surge is expected to continue at least until midweek.
Abc NewsConfirmed Ebola cases in eastern Congo reached 1,003 as of late Sunday, including 254 deaths, the Ministry of Health said. The outbreak, declared May 15 in Ituri province, is caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain.
Officials reported 1,003 confirmed cases and 254 deaths from an Ebola outbreak centered in Ituri province. The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, began May 15 and has spread to neighboring provinces and Uganda.