### Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Convicted of Witness Tampering

### In a groundbreaking court ruling, former Colombian president Álvaro Uribe faces his first criminal conviction for witness tampering, raising questions about political accountability and judicial integrity in Colombia.

In a historic decision, a court in Bogotá has found ex-Colombian president Álvaro Uribe guilty of witness tampering and fraud, marking him as the first former president in the country’s history to be convicted. The 73-year-old ex-leader, who served from 2002 to 2010, faced allegations of attempting to bribe witnesses connected to a broader investigation surrounding his purported links to right-wing paramilitary forces implicated in severe human rights violations.

Each conviction carries a potential sentence of up to 12 years in prison, although Uribe is planning to appeal, maintaining his steadfast claim of innocence throughout the process. Known for his aggressive military strategies against the leftist guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), Uribe has denied all allegations of connections with paramilitary groups since the inception of the investigation.

The court has seen over 90 witnesses give testimony throughout this contentious trial, leading to significant public interest. Reaction to the verdict has been polarized; U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the ruling, arguing that it underscores the exploitative use of judicial power against political adversaries. He claimed, through a post on the social media platform X, that Uribe's only offense was his commitment to defending his country.

The conviction comes years after initial charges against Uribe were lodged in 2012, stemming from accusations that he was being plotted against by left-wing senator Ivan Cepeda, whom Uribe accused of attempting to falsely associate him with paramilitary activities. However, the Colombian Supreme Court later dismissed these claims and shifted its focus to Uribe himself, accusing him of trying to manipulate testimony from imprisoned ex-combatants to obscure his alleged ties to the paramilitary forces.

Originally emerging in the 1980s with objectives of addressing poverty and marginalization, paramilitary groups in Colombia have had a complex relationship with drug trafficking, confronting Marxist guerrilla factions in a violent struggle for control over resources. While Uribe's hardline tactics gained him support from the U.S. government, they also positioned him as a divisive figure domestically, with critics arguing his policies failed to address significant socio-economic inequality in Colombia.

Even after Uribe's tenure, the nation has grappled with ongoing violence attributed to disbanded armed groups, despite a 2016 peace agreement signed by Uribe's successor with the remaining Farc rebels.