Colombia’s constitutional court revoked a government decree from 2012 that would allow mining in nine areas, together approximately the size of Minnesota.

According to the court, the government had ignored local indigenous’ rights in allowing the mining mainly in the eastern plains, the Pacific rain forests and the Amazon.

The ruling, requested by an indigenous rights group, virtually ended the government’s ambition to make mining the “motor” of the Colombian economy.

Colombia’s economy is going through a slowdown after global commodity prices slumped, severely disturbing the economic policy of the administration of President Juan Manuel Santos.

The disallowing of mining in an area of this size puts a sizable nail in the coffin of Santos faltering economic policy, which is facing fierce resistance from the countryside.

Colombia Reports | by Adriaan Alsema