Colombia appoints country’s 1st indigenous environment minister

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Colombian President Gustavo Petro appointed Lena Estrada Añokazi, an indigenous leader of Amazonian origin, as the new Minister of Environment on Wednesday.

Estrada, a member of the Uitoto Minika indigenous community, will oversee sustainability and energy transition issues as part of the government's political agenda.

Estrada is Colombia's first indigenous environment minister, holding a background as a political scientist, researcher and advocate for indigenous community rights and environmental protection.

She succeeds Susana Muhamad, a close Petro ally, who resigned on Feb. 9 following the appointment of Armando Benedetti, a former ambassador to Venezuela accused of domestic violence, as head of the presidential office.

The appointment came amid a ministerial crisis triggered by the live broadcast of a Cabinet meeting on Feb. 4 which revealed significant divisions within the government.

Following the meeting, Petro requested the protocolary resignation of his entire Cabinet to reorganize his administration.

This week, the appointments of seven ministers—for transportation, environment, labor, interior, sports, culture and defense—have been finalized, while the positions for technology and mining ministers remain vacant.

On Tuesday, Petro confirmed Benedetti as the new interior minister, despite controversies surrounding the former lawmaker and opposition from other Cabinet members. Petro's decision to retain Benedetti has led to the resignation of more than 25 senior officials.

The president has defended Benedetti's appointment, asserting that he deserves a second chance and that he trusts him to implement the government's promised social reforms.

Estrada's appointment as environment minister is particularly significant at a time when substantial efforts are being made to protect the Amazon rainforest, a critical component of Earth's climate and biodiversity.

Climate regulation and water supply in Latin America depend on the preservation of Amazonian ecosystems, which have suffered severe deforestation. The year 2024 saw a setback, with a 35% increase in deforestation compared to the previous year, totaling 107,000 hectares.

The Petro government has appointed several members of indigenous communities to high-ranking positions, including Vice Minister of Rural Development Polivio Rosales and Colombia's Ambassador to the UN, Leonor Zalabata.