Colombia’s Environment Minister Resigns but Will Lead COP16 Climate Talks
Colombia’s Environment Minister, Susana Muhamad, announced on Sunday that she has resigned from her position. In an interview with the Colombian news program Los Danieles, she said she has handed her resignation letter to President Gustavo Petro, but it’s not yet clear when it will take effect.
Despite stepping down as environment minister, Muhamad will continue her role as president of the United Nations COP16 biodiversity summit. This global event, held last October, brought together 200 countries to discuss protecting nature and wildlife.
Muhamad explained that her decision to resign was partly linked to her opposition to the appointment of Armando Benedetti to President Petro’s cabinet. Benedetti has faced accusations of violence against women and using his position for personal gain. However, Benedetti has denied these allegations, calling them false stories.
According to Reuters, Muhamad shared her reasons for resigning during a recent meeting with other ministers. Her departure highlights ongoing tensions within the government over ethical concerns and leadership decisions.
While Muhamad is leaving her role as environment minister, her continued leadership of COP16 shows her commitment to global efforts to protect biodiversity.
This story is based on reporting by Reuters.