Throughout his presidency, Uribe was recognized for his aggressive confrontations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a leftist guerrilla group. Despite his historical reputation for tackling insurgency, critics have accused him of neglecting social issues like poverty and inequality in Colombia. The ruling arrives after over a decade of legal struggles since Uribe was first charged in 2012, when he retaliated against accusations about his alleged connections with paramilitary groups by alleging a conspiracy against him by left-wing senator Ivan Cepeda. However, the Supreme Court pivoted the investigation towards Uribe himself, resulting in the trial's contentious proceedings, highlighted by over 90 witness testimonies.

Following the conviction, Uribe’s supporters expressed their outrage outside the courtroom. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the judicial decision, claiming that Uribe's only crime was his dedicated defense of Colombia. The division between Uribe's staunch supporters and his critics exemplifies the complex legacy of his presidency, one marked by military success against Farc but mired in ongoing struggles with violence and inequality, particularly in the years since his departure from office. While Colombia signed a peace agreement with Farc in 2016 under Uribe’s successor, the nation grapples with the remnants of armed conflict as disarmed groups continue to engage in violence and criminal activity.