Colombia's transitional justice tribunal has charged ten former FARC rebel leaders with war crimes and crimes against humanity over alleged systematic abuses against Indigenous communities.

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace announced the charges on October 13, citing acts committed between 1996 and 2016 against five Indigenous groups in southeastern Colombia.

Investigators accused former rebel commanders of responsibility for killings, torture, forced displacement, landmine deployment and destruction of land essential to Indigenous communities.

Among those charged is Julián Gallo, a former rebel leader who later served in Colombia's Senate following the 2016 peace agreement.

The accused have 30 days to respond. The tribunal's restorative justice system allows alternative penalties for those who acknowledge responsibility and cooperate, while contested convictions may lead to imprisonment.

Why it matters: The case demonstrates how Colombia's peace process continues to confront the consequences of decades of internal conflict, particularly violence against communities whose rights and territories were repeatedly threatened.