Colombia's interior minister has resigned as a political crisis shakes the government of President Gustavo Petro, following his decision to appoint a controversial politician as chief of staff.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has asked his cabinet members to resign ahead of a reshuffle, he said on Sunday, after the environment minister said she resigned in protest of a cabinet appointment.

Observers told Climate Home that Susana Muhamad's resignation while she holds Colombia's COP16 presidency could affect UN nature talks

The resignation of Colombia Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez from President Gustavo Petro's cabinet is definitive, the ministry said in a social media post on Tuesday, as Velasquez joins the environment and interior ministers in exiting the government.

The demand came after Petro on Tuesday subjected his Cabinet to a five-hour public dressing down on state TV, accusing several officials, including his trade, education and health ministers, of falling behind on the delivery of key projects.