Interior Minister Armando Benedetti announced the end of the peasant strike in Santander and Norte de Santander after agreements to review cadastral appraisals. The Girón-Lebrija road reopened after six days of blockade. The deal could serve as a model for other regions with similar protests.
Interior Minister Armando Benedetti confirmed the lifting of the peasant strike in Santander and Norte de Santander after agreements between the national government, regional authorities, and community leaders. The main commitment is the review and adjustment of cadastral appraisals, the primary cause of protests that began on April 9 and led to blockades on key roads.
Santander Governor Juvenal Díaz endorsed the consensus, which allowed the reopening of the national road between Girón and Lebrija, a strategic corridor closed for six days. Díaz highlighted the “Santander model” to replicate solutions with the IGAC and leaders from other regions like Cundinamarca, Boyacá, and Casanare.
The Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi (IGAC) issued Resolution 0384 of 2026, authorizing territorial directors to adjust appraisal increase percentages uniformly and technically. Meanwhile, President Gustavo Petro ordered Police and Armed Forces to clear blockades to ensure food transport, stressing prudence: “No deaths, but the roads are cleared.”
The blockades affected sectors like poultry, with 10 million eggs stockpiled and daily transport losses of $25 billion, per Fedetranscarga. The Consejo Gremial warned of supply chain disruptions, estimating $120 billion in daily losses, and called for institutional dialogue.
