How Colombia Ended a 60-Year War | Juan Manuel Santos

How do you end a war that has lasted for more than 60 years? Meet Juan Manuel Santos - former President of Colombia, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Chair of The Elders - who helped negotiate an end to one of the longest-running armed conflicts in modern history. Under his leadership, Colombia signed a peace agreement with FARC, bringing an end to a conflict that had shaped the country for generations. From a life-changing conversation with Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu in post-apartheid South Africa to negotiating peace with FARC, President Santos reflects on leadership, reconciliation and the difficult choices required to build a more peaceful future. But this conversation isn't just about war and peace. We explore Colombia's remarkable transformation over recent decades — from poverty reduction and environmental protection to Indigenous wisdom, sustainable development and the question of what becomes possible when a country chooses a different path. Along the way, Santos shares why peace is often unpopular, why victims became central to Colombia's peace process, and why he believes cooperation remains humanity's greatest challenge — and greatest opportunity. In this conversation: ✔️ How Colombia ended a 60-year conflict ✔️ Colombia's role in creating the Sustainable Development Goals ✔️ What Nelson Mandela taught Santos about reconciliation ✔️ Why peace is often unpopular ✔️ The difference between making peace and building it ✔️ The extraordinary story of Pastora Mira and forgiveness ✔️ The four existential threats facing humanity ✔️ Indigenous wisdom, climate change and peace with nature ✔️ What is still possible in today's world Go Deeper: 👉 The Elders https://theelders.org/ 👉 Juan Manuel Santos https://juanmanuelsantos.com/ 👉 The Open Library of the Colombian Peace Process https://bapp.com.co/en/inicio-english/ About Fix The News: Fix The News is a solutions-focused media platform sharing stories from the frontlines of progress - exploring what’s working in the world and the people making it happen. Subscribe & follow: If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast and leave a review - it helps more people find these stories. Production credits: Hosted by Angus Hervey and Amy Davoren-Rose Produced by Fix The News Audio production: Anthony Badolato, Hear That!