Colombian court slams ex-paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso with 40-year prison sentence for war crimes.
In a landmark verdict, a Colombian court has handed down a lengthy prison sentence to one of the most notorious leaders of Colombia's infamous paramilitary groups. Salvatore Mancuso, a former commander of the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC), was found guilty of masterminding over 100 crimes in La Guajira province between 2002 and 2006.
Under his leadership, AUC members committed heinous acts including murders, forced disappearances, and gender-based violence against indigenous communities. The court's ruling marked a significant moment in Colombia's ongoing efforts to confront its troubled past, where an estimated 450,000 people lost their lives between 1985 and 2018.
Mancuso, 61, had been extradited to the US in 2008 on drug trafficking charges and served a 15-year sentence. After being released from prison in 2024, he was offered conditional release but instead requested asylum in Italy. His request was rejected, and he was deported back to Colombia.
Critics argue that Mancuso's case highlights the lack of accountability for those responsible for atrocities committed during Colombia's civil war. Human rights groups have long accused Colombian politicians and business leaders of collaborating with paramilitary groups like the AUC.
The ruling has sparked both relief and controversy, with some hailing it as a victory against impunity but others lamenting the late recognition of Mancuso's crimes.
In a landmark verdict, a Colombian court has handed down a lengthy prison sentence to one of the most notorious leaders of Colombia's infamous paramilitary groups. Salvatore Mancuso, a former commander of the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC), was found guilty of masterminding over 100 crimes in La Guajira province between 2002 and 2006.
Under his leadership, AUC members committed heinous acts including murders, forced disappearances, and gender-based violence against indigenous communities. The court's ruling marked a significant moment in Colombia's ongoing efforts to confront its troubled past, where an estimated 450,000 people lost their lives between 1985 and 2018.
Mancuso, 61, had been extradited to the US in 2008 on drug trafficking charges and served a 15-year sentence. After being released from prison in 2024, he was offered conditional release but instead requested asylum in Italy. His request was rejected, and he was deported back to Colombia.
Critics argue that Mancuso's case highlights the lack of accountability for those responsible for atrocities committed during Colombia's civil war. Human rights groups have long accused Colombian politicians and business leaders of collaborating with paramilitary groups like the AUC.
The ruling has sparked both relief and controversy, with some hailing it as a victory against impunity but others lamenting the late recognition of Mancuso's crimes.
this guy gets 40 yrs in prison after all that time he was in the US already served 15 yrs like what did they do to him back then? and now he just shows up in colombia asks for asylum in italy and BAM! rejected and now he's back where the crimes happened is it too little too late? 
[GIF: A cartoon character in a courtroom, looking relieved after being found guilty]
[Image: A broken clock with a red X through it]
[Meme: A photo of Salvatore Mancuso with the words "he's been serving a 15-year sentence for 40 years" written above]
[GIF: A person shrugging and saying "what can you do?"]
. It's crazy how far we've come (or so I thought), but I guess you could say justice is finally catching up to some of these ex-paramilitary leaders 
. I just wish this wasn't happening 20 years after the fact, you know?
. Like, we gotta acknowledge that Colombia's had some serious issues with paramilitary groups and how they've affected communities, especially indigenous ones 
. But at the same time, I feel like Mancuso got off kinda light considering what he was found guilty of 
. 40 years might not seem like a lot to some people, but it's still a pretty long sentence 
. And can we talk about how this guy was able to request asylum in Italy and have his request denied? That's just crazy 
. I think there are definitely some systemic issues at play here that need to be addressed 
.
they've been through so much trauma and pain. 40 years in prison is like, a huge deal, but I feel like it's kinda late too... like, shouldn't we have seen justice sooner? 
the fact that Mancuso was able to request asylum in Italy and get rejected just shows how hard it is to hold people accountable for war crimes. 
This verdict feels kinda like justice is finally catching up with someone who's had a pretty long run. I mean, 40 years is a huge sentence and all, but some people might say it's still not enough considering what he did to those communities 
. It makes me wonder if there are more cases like this one that have been swept under the rug because of connections or something? And yeah, Colombia's history with paramilitary groups has been super dark – 450,000 dead is just crazy 
. I guess it's progress or whatever, and I'm glad some people are finally being held accountable for their actions 
.
I just saw this news about Salvatore Mancuso being sentenced to 40 years in prison for war crimes 
and to think that some of these crimes were committed under Mancuso's leadership makes it even more egregious 
it feels like a step forward but also a reminder of how many more people need justice 
