\n Colombia's government has signed a revised peace accord with the FARC rebels, but now faces political battles to implement the controversial deal and end the country's half-century conflict.\n<\/p>\n
\n Here are five hurdles for President Juan Manuel Santos and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) as they seek to seal the peace -- with resistance led by the hawkish ex-president Alvaro Uribe.\n<\/p>\n
\n - Enforcement -\n<\/p>\n
\n Colombians narrowly rejected an earlier version of the accord in a humiliating referendum defeat for Santos on October 2.\n<\/p>\n
\n Uribe has called for another referendum on the new deal. But Santos plans instead to pass it through Congress, where he holds a majority. It is expected to pass after a debate starting Tuesday.\n<\/p>\n
\n - Need for speed -\n<\/p>\n
\n A raft of laws and reforms will be needed to bring the accord's various chapters into effect. The legislation could take months to pass.\n<\/p>\n
\n But with pressure to disarm the rebels as soon as possible for fear of violence, Santos may use a \"fast track\" procedure if the Constitutional Court permits it.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"Everything seems to indicate that the fast-track will be activated, which will make the legal implementation process quicker,\" said analyst Kyle Johnson of the International Crisis Group.\n<\/p>\n
\n - Political pressures -\n<\/p>\n
\n The government and FARC said the revised accord tightens judicial conditions for trying crimes of the conflict. Uribe complained it still grants impunity for war crimes.\n<\/p>\n
\n He vowed to keep fighting for points where he says the accord should go further, and his party has threatened street protests.\n<\/p>\n
\n Analysts warn the political conflict could complicate the accord, with general elections due in 2018.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"Political rivalry over the coming year could obstruct the implementation of the pact,\" said Jorge Restrepo, director of the conflict analysis center CERAC.\n<\/p>\n
\n Political scientist Frederic Masse of Colombia's Externado University warned that \"if the opposition wins the elections, it will be even harder to implement.\"\n<\/p>\n
\n - Violence -\n<\/p>\n
\n The FARC are by far the biggest rebel force in Colombia and the key anti-government actors in the war. But there is another, smaller rebel group that has yet to join the peace process.\n<\/p>\n
\n The government's efforts to start talks with the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN) have failed so far due to disputes over hostages.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"Unless there is a bilateral ceasefire with the ELN, there will be more fighting with the ELN in areas where the FARC are also present, which could sow confusion,\" Masse warned.\n<\/p>\n
\n The conflict zones remain riven by territorial demands, gang feuds and local political quarrels, Restrepo says.\n<\/p>\n
\n Remnants of right-wing paramilitaries that once took part in the conflict are feared to be lingering.\n<\/p>\n
\n Then there are the country's drug gangs, which the peace accord is supposed to stamp out.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"When the FARC disappear, other causes for violence could emerge,\" Restrepo warned. \"Violence and weapons could be channeled to other conflicts.\"\n<\/p>\n
\n - Trump -\n<\/p>\n
\n It is not known what will become of US President Barack Obama's pledge of $450 million in aid to end the conflict once his elected successor Donald Trump takes office in January.\n<\/p>\n
\n Trump's abrasive approach to international relations has raised uncertainty in Latin America.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"It will be an obstacle, because the United States is swinging to the right and an enormous ally in implementing the accord is being lost,\" Restrepo said.\n<\/p>\n
\n Concessions to the FARC on tackling the drug-trafficking that has funded them are a delicate part of the accord. Trump's tough approach to crime could have an impact.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"In anti-drug policies, which are at the heart of the accord, he will be more than an obstacle,\" Restrepo said.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"He will be an opponent.\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Colombia's government has signed a revised peace accord with the FARC rebels, but now faces political battles to implement the controversial deal and end the country's half-century conflict. Here are five hurdles for President Juan Manuel Santos and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) as they seek to seal the peace -- with resistance […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[553],"tags":[],"ji_location":[],"class_list":["post-30774","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-live-feed"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n