BOGOTA, Colombia

Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) on Monday charged 22 former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) with war crimes and crimes against humanity, according to an official statement.

The charges relate to crimes allegedly committed between 1993 and 2016, including systematic kidnappings carried out by the rebel group during the country’s internal armed conflict.

The JEP said its investigation identified those most responsible for designing and implementing FARC’s kidnapping policy across multiple regions, as well as assessing the impact of those practices on victims and local communities.

The case, known as “Macro Case 01,” examined hostage-taking and severe deprivation of liberty, along with other crimes committed during captivity, including murder, enforced disappearance, torture, cruel treatment, sexual violence, enslavement and forced displacement.

Authorities said the investigation lasted nearly seven years and included testimony from hundreds of victims, as well as a review of extensive documentary and testimonial evidence.

The tribunal has so far identified 63 senior FARC figures as responsible for the group’s kidnapping policy.

The 22 accused have 30 working days to submit written statements either accepting or rejecting the charges.

Those who accept responsibility and provide full accounts of their actions may face reduced sanctions involving effective restrictions on liberty rather than prison sentences.

If the charges are rejected, the cases will be transferred to the Investigation and Indictment Unit, where the accused could face sentences of up to 20 years in prison.

The JEP was established under the 2016 peace accord between the Colombian government and FARC, which ended more than five decades of conflict. Under the agreement, former rebel members must appear before the tribunal to fully participate in political life.

*Writing by Busra Nur Cakmak in Ankara