RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – These are the news that has marked 2021 in the country:
SOCIAL OUTBREAK
Protests against the economic and social policies of President Iván Duque’s Government, triggered by a controversial tax reform that the Executive ended up withdrawing, shook the country between April 28 and July 31.
The demonstrations, which included road blockades for several weeks and paralyzed the economy, left 46 violent deaths. At least 28 were caused by police action, according to a report by the Office of the U.N. High CU.N.missioner for Human Rights.
MIGRATION CRISIS IN THE DARIEN
Migration from South America to North America, especially of Haitians, with Colombia as a transit country, reached record numbers between July and September.
Migration Colombia registered more than 27,000 people of different nationalities who entered the country irregularly in August alone, in a juicy business that has led to the emergence of migrant smuggling networks that in turn are victims of physical and sexual abuse, mistreatment, and even homicides in their crossing of the Darien Gap, on the border with Panama.
THE MOST WANTED DRUG TRAFFICKER HAS FALLEN
Dairo Antonio Úsuga David, alias “Otoniel,” Colombia’s most-wanted drug trafficker and head of the Clan del Golfo, the country’s most prominent criminal gang, was captured on October 23 in a joint police and Armed Forces operation in the department of Antioquia and awaits extradition to the U.S.
HowevU.S, “Otoniel” claimed in December before the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) that he voluntarily turned himself in and was not detained by the authorities, something that President Duque dismissed by assuring that he was captured in an operation in which he was surrounded for months.
THE FARC, CHARGED FOR KIDNAPPINGS IN THE JEP
Last January, the Special Justice for Peace (JEP) charged the former FARC guerrillas with war crimes for the first time and indicted its previous eight leaders for kidnappings and other serious crimes related to the deprivation of liberty the armed conflict.
Three months later, leaders of the defunct guerrillas admitted their responsibility in the kidnappings of civilians and military personnel during the conflict and recognized that the FARC had “a policy” of kidnappings to finance itself, gain territory, and use it as a bargaining chip.
THE ECONOMY RECOVERS FROM THE CRISIS
Despite the dollar rising and inflation reaching its highest levels in more than a decade, the Colombian economy grew in the third quarter by 5.7% compared to the previous quarter and by 13.2% compared to July-September 2020, which places it, behind Chile, as the fastest growing economy in the region.
Given these results, the Government improved its projections and expects to close 2021 with a 9.7% growth of the economy, which would be the best performance in 100 years, according to President Duque.
ECOPETROL BUYS 51.4 % OF THE ELECTRIC COMPANY ISA
Colombian state-owned oil company Ecopetrol announced on August 11 an agreement with the Ministry of Finance to acquire all of the Nation’s shares in Interconexión Eléctrica S.A. (ISA), a regional leader in the electricity sector. (ISA), Among other countries, a regional leader in electricity transmission with operations in Colombia, Brazil, Chile, and Peru.
With this operation, Ecopetrol acquired 51.4% of ISA’s outstanding shares as part of its strategy to become an integrated energy company.
AVIANCA EMERGES FROM BANKRUPTCY
Colombian airline Avianca completed its financial restructuring process in December and emerged from bankruptcy “with significantly reduced debt and more than US$1 billion in liquidity”,
Avianca had filed for Chapter 11 U.S. bankU.S.cy protection in May 2020 to emerge from a crisis exacerbated by the covid-19 pandemic, and last July obtained financial commitments of $1.6 billion to finance its reorganization.
FIRST JUNIOR PAN AMERICAN GAMES
This year, the most important sporting event for the country’s sports was the first edition of the Junior Pan American Games, which were held in Cali in November and December with resounding success.
More than 3,500 athletes between 14 and 22 years of age from 41 countries competed in 27 disciplines. Brazil finished first in the medal standings with 59 gold medals, 49 silver medals, and 55 bronze medals.
HISTORIC MEDAL FOR ZAMBRANO
Anthony Zambrano won the silver medal in the 400 meters of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. It is a historic triumph because it is the first medal of national male athletics in a sprint event and a fourth of the country in this sport.
Zambrano took the silver in the final. The Bahamian Steven Gardiner was gold, thus repeating the positions obtained two years ago at the World Championships in Doha and leaving a bronze consolation to an Olympic and world champion, the Grenadian Kirani James.
EGAN BERNAL WINS FOR HIS FIRST GIRO D’ITALIA
The cyclist Egan Bernal, 24 years old and member of the Ineos team, climbed to the top of the podium of the Giro d’Italia, in what was also his first participation, escorted by the Italian Damiano Caruso (Bahrain), at 1:29, and the British Simon Yates (BikeExchange), at 4:15.
Bernal had three fabulous weeks and managed his income in the last one, supported by his talent and an Ineos team committed to its leader, who also recovered his best version after months complicated by injuries.