At least 39 people were killed in violence involving leftwing guerrillas near Colombia’s volatile border with Venezuela, according to authorities, prompting the government to suspend peace negotiations with the National Liberation Army (ELN).
President Gustavo Petro halted ongoing peace talks with the ELN, accusing them of committing “war crimes” during a new wave of violence. The ELN, in two separate attacks, targeted both a rival leftist faction and a prominent paramilitary gang, undermining hopes for a voluntary end to their armed activities.
In North Santander, ELN fighters killed at least 30 people and injured 20 others while attacking dissidents from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in various villages and farms. Meanwhile, in Bolivar, nine people died in clashes between ELN fighters and the Clan del Golfo, a powerful right-wing paramilitary group.
Officials reported that ELN fighters went “house to house” searching for individuals linked to the FARC dissidents, causing widespread fear and displacement. Local residents described harrowing encounters with the guerrillas, with one coca grower stating they came to his home multiple times, threatening to kill him if he was not handed over.
The violence, which started on Thursday, is reportedly linked to territorial disputes over coca cultivation, a key ingredient in the global cocaine trade that thrives along the Colombia-Venezuela border. Public Defender Iris Marin indicated that many families had fled their homes and several people were reported missing.
The ELN, one of the largest remaining armed groups in Colombia, has long been involved in the drug trade despite its leftist and nationalist rhetoric. It is now one of the region’s most powerful criminal organizations.
Army troops were deployed to the region to evacuate the wounded and restore some form of order, though the violence presents a significant security challenge for Colombia’s armed forces, who struggle to control the country’s rugged terrain and pervasive armed groups.
For President Petro, whose political agenda is centered around the “Total Peace” policy, this escalation represents a serious setback. His government has sought peace talks with violent armed groups like the ELN, which have long been despised by many Colombians. Petro announced the suspension of talks, citing the ELN’s lack of commitment to peace. Previous negotiations had broken down after an ELN attack on a military base last year.
Experts like Elizabeth Dickinson from the International Crisis Group have characterized the current situation as a “very serious crisis,” noting that the ELN seems more focused on consolidating territory and unity within its ranks than engaging in peace talks. This ongoing military campaign, rather than isolated clashes, signifies the group’s continued commitment to armed conflict.
The ELN’s strong ties with Venezuela and President Nicolás Maduro could further complicate the situation, especially given Colombia’s strained diplomatic relationship with the Maduro government.
