Colombia’s agriculture minister announced his resignation Friday, following disappointing results in the return of stolen land to displaced farmers and several crises in a number of agricultural sectors.
Minister Juan Camilo Restrepo told Caracol Radio he had handed in his resignation to President Juan Manuel Santos weeks ago.
The conservative Restrepo did not say when he will leave office.
Newspaper El Espectador reported that sources had said the minister would stay on until there is agreement on agrarian reform in Cuba, where government negotiators and representatives of rebel group FARC are negotiating peace. A reform of Colombia’s agricultural sector is the first and main point of debate.
Restrepo confirmed negotiators’ claims that the rebel group and government and close to reaching a deal on the agrarian reform.
The outgoing minister took office at the beginning of Santos’ presidential term. His appointment was one of the first causes for Santos to clash for former President Alvaro Uribe, a political enemy of Restrepo.