“Colombia’s current armed conflict has been going on

for almost 50 years, though many

would say much longer. This conflict is rooted in inequality, poverty, and the social,

political and economic exclusion of disadvantaged social groups in extensive geographic

areas of the country…

…In the last three decades these socio-economic and political

conditions created an environment for drug trafficking to emerge as one of the main

drivers of the Colombian crisis.”

45.00%

46.00%

47.00%

48.00%

49.00%

50.00%

51.00%

52.00%

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Line

% of population

Click to hear stories form IDPs:

The Armed Conflict: Over 11, 000 child soldiers

Approximately 40 percent of Colombia's 3.8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) are of African descent

Fierce competition over territorial control due to richness in biodiversity

.http://www.unhcr.org/4c11f0be9.pdf

www.jpanafrican.com/.../ContemporaryChallengesInColombia_JPASvol1no8.pdf

http://web.worldbank.org