politics
May 7, 2026
Exclusive
One moves in Bogotá and the other executes in La Guajira. They have been climbing in silence, but they are not just any indigenous people,” say sources about the...
TL;DR
- Brothers Armando and Gustavo Custodio Wouriyú Valbuena are indigenous leaders with significant influence and government contracts.
- Armando Custodio Wouriyú is a vocero for Gustavo Petro's Constituent Assembly initiative and has received funds for its promotion.
- Their association, Wayúu–Araurayú, legally represented by Gustavo Custodio, has secured over $20 billion in contracts with various government entities.
- Critics question the transparency and implementation of these contracts, particularly concerning community benefits in impoverished areas.
- Armando Wouriyú's influence is structured around social contracting, national representation, and a strategic alliance with President Petro, particularly concerning energy transition projects.
- There are concerns about the legitimacy of Armando's authority in certain territories and a perceived disconnect between his actions in Bogotá and the needs of local communities.