Colombian Lawmaker and Champion of Afro-Colombian Rights Dies at 68
BOGOTA, Colombia – Piedad Córdoba, a courageous Colombian lawmaker known for her tireless advocacy for the rights of Afro-Colombians and her risky involvement as a mediator with leftist rebel groups, has passed away at the age of 68.
A True Liberal and Champion of Democracy
The news of Senator Córdoba’s death was confirmed on Saturday by President Gustavo Petro, who hailed her as a true liberal and commended her lifelong fight for a more democratic society. The cause of her death has not been disclosed, but Colombian media reports suggest that she was found dead at her home in Medellin, apparently due to a heart attack.
Colorful Turbans and Leftist Stalwart
Córdoba was widely recognized throughout Colombia for her vibrant turbans, which symbolized her African heritage. She stood out as a staunch leftist in one of Latin America’s most conservative countries and faced numerous challenges for her outspoken defense of the marginalized and dispossessed in society.
A Fearless Mediator and Key Player in Peace Negotiations
Throughout her career, Córdoba fearlessly embraced conflict and adversity. She played a crucial behind-the-scenes role in the peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, ultimately leading to the historic 2016 peace deal that ended decades of guerrilla warfare.
A Difficult Political Battle
However, her final political battle proved to be almost insurmountable. Despite her comeback in the wake of President Petro’s election as Colombia’s first leftist president, Córdoba faced immense challenges. Her brother, Alvaro Córdoba, was arrested and extradited to the U.S. on drug trafficking charges in 2022. Although she herself was not charged, her brother’s lawyers claimed that she was the intended target of a sting operation orchestrated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
A Leader from an Early Age
Córdoba, the eldest of 12 children, was raised in Medellin by two teachers. Her father was Black and her mother was white. In Colombia, where people of African descent make up around 10% of the population, they have historically faced political and economic marginalization.
According to her childhood friend Armanda Arboleda, Córdoba displayed leadership qualities from a young age and was known for her tenacity and refusal to give up. After obtaining a law degree, she began her political career in the hillside slums of Medellin as a member of the Liberal Party, one of the country’s largest political groups.
Defying Colombia’s Dangerous Divide
During one of Colombia’s darkest periods, when drug cartels armed rebel and paramilitary groups in a bloody territorial conflict, Córdoba fearlessly spoke out for the minorities who suffered the most. Her defiance of Colombia’s treacherous ideological divide led to her kidnapping in 1999 by Carlos Castaño, the top right-wing warlord at the time. After her release, she and her family briefly sought refuge in Canada.
Uncovering Ties and Building Bridges
In the following years, Córdoba continued her activism. She exposed the connections between President Alvaro Uribe’s conservative allies in Congress and the violent paramilitaries. She also called on leftist governments in the region to sever diplomatic ties with Colombia over what she alleged were Uribe’s links to the country’s criminal underworld.
Despite bitter feuds and ideological differences, both Uribe and Córdoba relied on each other and the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to secure the release of politicians and soldiers held captive by the FARC. Her efforts earned her praise from the left but scorn from conservatives, who often heckled her in public as a “traitor” and guerrilla sympathizer.
Expulsion and Comeback
In 2010, Córdoba was expelled from Congress and barred from holding office for 18 years on allegations of promoting the FARC. However, this decision was later overturned, and Córdoba regained her Senate seat in the last election, riding on the coattails of President Petro’s historic victory.
Colombia has lost a fearless champion for the rights of Afro-Colombians and a tireless advocate for a more democratic society. Piedad Córdoba’s legacy will be remembered for her unwavering determination to bring about positive change despite the challenges she faced throughout her life.
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