Colombia's FARC Embrace Peace and Politics

Ex-leftist rebels from Colombia's former guerrilla movement the FARC took their seats in the country's new Congress on Friday, as it held its first annual session

In Colombia, former FARC guerrillas took their seats on Friday as part of an agreement that ended five decades of war. 

At the opening of the new Congress, one-time fighters for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) filed into the lower house where they prepared to be sworn in collectively along with other members of the two chambers. 

Under the terms of the 2016 peace deal between the FARC and the government – the Common Alternative Revolutionary Force (or in Spanish, Fuerza Alternativa Revolucionaria del Común), the political party born of the demobilization and disarmament of the FARC were awarded five seats each in the 108-member Senate and the 172-member lower house through 2026. 

Outgoing President Jose Manuel Santos (right) presided over the said ceremony in which all new lawmakers elected in the May elections (and including those from FARC) were welcomed into "this temple of democracy". 

At the same time, he urged the nation to protect the nascent peace that he had put together. 

“Many – we must admit it – don’t like seeing them in this place of debate and civility. In my case, and I'm sure it's shared by millions of Colombians, it fills me with satisfaction that those who for more than half a century fought with arms against the state and its institutions, today submit to the Constitution and the laws of Colombia, as we all do”, said Santos, who won a Nobel Peace prize for his tireless efforts to end the war, in his final address to Congress before leaving office on August 07. 

Indeed, this is an important milestone in Colombia’s history. 

I am hopeful this peace agreement that has been forged will hold – even as President-elect Ivan Duque Márquez (left) and his Democratic Center party are taking over the reins of government next month. After all, it had been backed by about three-quarters of Congress. 

Daniel Sturridge and Lazar Markovic were on target as Liverpool's preparations for the new campaign continued with a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers. 

Again, team changes made in each half – but it was the second half that was really productive for the Reds. 

Next, Liverpool take on Jurgen Klopp's old side Borussia Dortmund in the International Champions Cup in the USA on Sunday.