In Colombia, a surge in guerrilla violence has left over 80 people dead and displaced thousands in just four days, officials reported. The violence erupted in the Catatumbo region, a key area for coca cultivation, as the National Liberation Army (ELN) attacked a rival faction of former FARC rebels. Many civilians were caught in the conflict, leading to widespread displacement.
To counter the violence, the Colombian government deployed 5,000 troops to the region, while some refugees crossed into Venezuela for safety. The violence also involved reports of targeted killings by the ELN, who went door-to-door executing individuals suspected of links to FARC dissidents. The situation has escalated to the point where humanitarian aid is urgently needed, with the government calling for safe evacuation corridors for civilians.
The ELN, which remains one of Colombia’s largest armed groups, has been engaged in the country’s ongoing conflict, which includes the drug trade and territorial disputes. The violence, which also involved clashes with the Gulf Clan drug cartel, has led President Gustavo Petro to suspend peace negotiations with the ELN. Petro criticized the group for its lack of willingness to negotiate peace and accused it of committing war crimes.
