Solidarity with the People of Colombia: Denouncing Foreign Intervention in a Historic Electoral Process

May 30, 2026

The Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN) is in Colombia and has met with social movement leaders and human rights defenders ahead of the historic presidential elections that will take place tomorrow, Sunday, May 31, 2026. Our delegation will join other international organizations as certified election observers with the Misión de Observación Electoral (MOE).

CRLN echoes the concerns of social movement leaders and human rights defenders who have warned of violence, disinformation, and foreign interference in Sunday’s election.

These elections are taking place amid an atmosphere of political violence. Hundreds of reported acts of violence, threats, and attacks targeting political, social, and community leaders, are deeply alarming and raise serious concerns about efforts to generate fear, restrict participation, and influence the democratic process. The Misión de Observación Electoral (MOE) has repeatedly warned of increasing risks related to political violence, disinformation campaigns, attacks on political leadership, and threats to democratic participation across the country. While the Colombian government has taken important steps to guarantee the electoral process, reports of vote-buying by third actors, clientelism, electoral irregularities, and misinformation threaten to undermine democratic participation.

We are especially concerned by the growing evidence of foreign interference. By U.S. politicians, including Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Representative María Elvira Salazar (R-Florida). Their statements must be denounced because they appear to favor certain political sectors, question the legitimacy of votes from particular regions, or seek to influence public opinion ahead of the election. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has also drawn criticism for actions and statements that many Colombians view as attempts to influence the electoral process.

These developments must be understood within the broader history of U.S. intervention in Latin America. For generations, governments, corporations, and political actors from the United States have sought to shape political outcomes across the region at the expense of popular sovereignty and self-determination. Many international human rights organizations, as well as the people of Honduras concluded that U.S. interference likely influenced voters and affected the political environment.

The people of Colombia have every right to be concerned that similar efforts could impact their own democratic process. The future of Colombia belongs to the Colombian people. Only the people of Colombia can decide their future.

We stand in solidarity with Colombia’s social movements, Indigenous peoples, Afro-Colombian communities, workers, women, youth, faith leaders, and human rights defenders who continue to work and fight for democracy, peace, justice, and liberation.


Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN)