The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have embarked on the first day of their Colombian tour, warmly welcomed by their host, Vice President Francia Marquez. The invitation came after Marquez was moved by the couple’s Netflix documentary.
However, Marquez is far from your typical dignitary or career politician, having risen from humble beginnings and survived numerous assassination attempts to reach the top of national politics.
In 2022, the 42-year-old made history by becoming Colombia’s first black VP, in a country where the large black population often faces discrimination. The left-wing environmental activist managed to mobilise a significant number of disenfranchised voters, leading the New York Times to label her a “national phenomenon.”
Francia Marquez revealed that a key reason for inviting Prince Harry and Meghan was because their story “moved” her. She stated: “I saw the Netflix series about their life, their story and that moved me and motivated me to say that this is a woman who deserves to come to our country and tell her story and her exchange will undoubtedly be an empowerment to so many women in the world.”
Ms Marquez’s ascent to the second-highest office in Colombia is all the more extraordinary given her background. In a country where politics often requires wealth and formal education, Marquez has certainly broken the mould, reports the Mirror.
Starting her journey as a cleaner and housekeeper, she quickly became a notable figure in the south of Colombia through her activism for the rights of Afro-Colombian miners against the encroachment of international companies. Her efforts began at the tender age of 13, and after years of advocacy, Marquez led a significant march to Bogota, catapulting the miners’ struggles into the national spotlight.
By 2014, Marquez had become a champion for Afro-Colombian women and was instrumental in pushing for a resolution to the long-standing conflict between the Colombian government and Marxist FARC rebels. Her speech at the Havana peace talks in 2014 underscored the disproportionate impact of the conflict on black women, amidst a death toll exceeding 220,000.
Fast forward eight years, and Marquez threw her hat into the political ring, announcing her vice-presidential bid at a feminist conference. Her campaign centred on environmental justice and the defence of marginalized black and indigenous communities within Colombia.
However, her stance attracted grave risks, including numerous death threats and an assassination attempt during a campaign rally when she was targeted by “laser beams” suspected to be from sniper rifles, leading to her urgent evacuation by security personnel.
Following her election as Vice President, a second attempt on her life was made when a bomb was discovered by the side of a road leading to her residence. Marquez recounted the chilling incident: “Members of my security team found a device with more than 7 kilos of explosive material on the road leading to my family home in the village of Yolombo, in Suarez, Cauca. It was destroyed in a controlled manner.”
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, is no stranger to being the centre of gossip and criticism, yet she consistently stands firm to voice her opinions. It seems that Marquez may see a reflection of her own principles in the Royal couple, as suggested by the warmth of her invitation.
Reflecting on Prince Harry’s visit, Marquez drew connections to a journey his mother, Princess Diana, had intended to make to Colombia before her untimely death in 1997. She expressed: “I think that Prince Harry being here today after that dream of his mum’s of visiting this country is an opportunity to show the best of our nation, to show who Colombians are.”
“We are people who in the midst of adversities do everything possible to give the best of ourselves.”
