Controversial Decree Shakes Colombian Land Market

Colombia's Agrarian Reform Sparks Land Ownership Debate Bogota, Colombia – June 1, 2025 – A new decree impacting land sales in Colombia has ignited a firestorm of controversy. The measure, part of the government's agrarian reform initiative, mandates that landowners offer their properties to the National Land Agency (ANT) before selling them privately. This has prompted strong criticism from experts who deem the decree arbitrary and lacking a solid legal foundation. "This measure is arbitrary and lacks legal basis," stated one expert interviewed in the report. The decree has raised concerns among landowners and real estate professionals, who fear it will stifle the rural property market. However, government officials defend the decree, highlighting the need for land redistribution to address inequality and promote rural development. Isabella Andrea Hernandez, the Superintendent Delegate of Notary, emphasized that the right of first refusal for the government has existed since 1994, and the decree merely clarifies and extends this existing provision. She stated, "There is no imposition; the privileged option of purchase has existed since 1994." Former ministers Cecilia Lopez and Juan Camilo Restrepo expressed concerns that the decree may discourage rural business and contradict principles of free disposition. Restrepo voiced his concerns about the potential for paralysis in the rural property market. The debate continues, with the government maintaining its commitment to land reform, while critics raise concerns about the legality and economic implications of the new decree. The long-term effects of this policy on Colombia's rural landscape remain to be seen.