Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has received the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize.
On November 29, the Colombian Congress ratified a revised peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The deal, which has put an end to Colombia’s 52-year-long civil war was the outcome of a 4-year negotiation. Mr Santos reached a historic peace deal with FARC earlier this year, but that deal was narrowly rejected by Colombian voters in a referendum on October 2. A revised deal addressed 56 changes requested by the opposition party. Unlike the previous deal, this new deal will not require a referendum.
President Santos and FARC leader Rodrigo Londono agreed that the tough and ensuring peace negotiation has ended successfully, paving the way for a new era in Colombia, an era of peace and development. The Colombian people and the international community hope the deal would revive Colombia after more than 5 decades of a civil war in which 220,000 people were killed, 60,000 went missing, and 6.9 million people had to flee their homes.
The 2016 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to President Santos reflects international recognition of efforts to restore peace by the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
