Photo: In May 2026, PBI-Colombia accompanied dhColombia at the hearings in the case of Castillo de la Ossa who was killed by the Esmad.
The Madrid-based digital newspaper Demócrata reports: “The Colombian Executive has initiated a new reorganization of the National Police by which the former Dialogue and Order Maintenance Unit (UNDMO), created during the mandate of former president Gustavo Petro, will be replaced by another structure with a different name and will again incorporate a riot squad to act in contexts of social protest.”
The article further explains: “The UNDMO will be replaced by the National Anti-Riot Unit (UNADI), which in turn will incorporate the Mobile Anti-Riot Squads (ESMAD), thus recovering the name and the acronym that were used before the reforms promoted by Petro’s Government (2022-2026).”
Infobae also now reports: “The National Police changed the name of the Unit for Dialogue and Maintenance of Order (Undmo). It will now be called the National Anti-Riot Unit (UNADI). …According to the document issued by the Police, the unit will have the following internal organizational structure: Subcommand of the National Anti-Riot Unit (Sunad); Operational Monitoring Group (Gusop); Regional Riot Control (Radis); Mobile Anti-Riot Squad (Esmad). …[Esmad] is a dependency of the Radis. It is in charge of carrying out operational activities in the attention to scenarios of agglomeration of people and alteration of public order that may affect the coexistence and security of citizens, such as ‘riots, riots, riots and other behaviors.’”
And El Nuevo Dia comments: “The return of the Esmad denomination reopens the debate on the management of social protest in Colombia, because the 2022 change had given priority to the concept of dialogue and maintenance of order.”
The ESMAD
In December 2019, Justice for Colombia noted: “At least 34 people have been killed by Colombia’s Mobile Anti-Disturbance Squadron (ESMAD) since it was created 20 years ago, according to new findings published by the Colombian NGO Temblores.”
By May 2021, Reuters, reporting on 40 deaths after two weeks of national strike protests, reported: “The police and its ESMAD riot squad are presumed responsible for 11 killings, the ombudsman has previously said.”
PBI accompaniment
Peace Brigades International has accompanied activities, demands for justice, and memorials related to people killed by the Esmad including Castillo de la Ossa, Kevin Anthony Agudelo, Michael Andrés Aranda Perez and Harold Antonio Rodríguez, Brayan Niño, Nicolas Neira and Dilan Cruz.
The call to dismantle the ESMAD
Several PBI accompanied organizations – including dhColombia, the Association for Social Research and Action (Nomadesc), the Committee in Solidarity with Political Prisoners (CSPP), and the Regional Corporation for the Defence of Human Rights (Credhos) – had previously called for the ESMAD to be dismantled.
In June 2023, the Petro government changed the name of the ESMAD to the Dialogue and Order Maintenance Unit (UNDMO). At least three PBI accompanied organizations – including the CSPP, the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers Collective (CCAJAR), and the Corporation for Judicial Liberty (CJL) – stated that this reform was insufficient.
Canadian unions supported this call
In May 2021, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) supported the call for the dismantling of the ESMAD.
The CLC statement highlighted: “Canadian unions condemn this violence and support the legitimate demands of the Colombian people for: The dismantling of the Colombian national police riot control unit (known by its Spanish acronym ESMAD).”
The demand to Canada to stop equipping the police
PBI-Colombia has raised the issue of police violence with Canadian Embassy representatives several times, including on August 4, November 29, December 1, 2021. At that December 1, 2021, meeting, Nomadesc requested guarantees that Canada does not assist the Colombian police with equipment.
We continue to follow this.
Further reading: Credhos and CSPP raise concerns about the right to protest in Colombia with the implementation of Decree 1525 (PBI-Canada, October 15, 2026).
