The Colombian government and a splinter group of the former guerrilla organization FARC have agreed on a ceasefire. The peace talks are also being accompanied by the EU.
The Colombian government and a splinter group of the former guerrilla organization FARC have agreed to a ceasefire. A joint statement said that offensive actions would cease from today, but that the ceasefire decree would not be issued until October 16. The reason for this is that a number of questions still need to be clarified beforehand, the delegates of the conflicting parties announced at the start of peace talks in the municipality of Tibú near the Venezuelan border.
In a letter signed by both sides and available to the Catholic News Agency (KNA), the state and the FARC dissident group Estado Mayor Central (EMC) commit to continuing the peace process that has been initiated “to achieve a stable and lasting peace with social and ecological to achieve justice”. The negotiations are being accompanied by the United Nations, the Organization of American States, the Catholic Church, the EU, Norway, Switzerland, Ireland and Venezuela.
EMC refused peace contract from 2016
The dissidents are a splinter group of the former FARC guerrillas who, after several years of negotiations, concluded a peace agreement with the Colombian state in 2016, laid down their weapons and are now active as a political party under the name “Comunes”.
The dissidents refused to recognize the treaty and continued the armed struggle against the state. Today the organization is primarily a criminal group involved in drug trafficking, illegal mining and protection rackets. According to its own information, EMC has 3,000 fighters. According to other sources there are several hundred.
President wants complete pacification of the country
Colombia suffered 52 years of civil war between left-wing rebels, right-wing paramilitaries and the military. 220,000 people died and millions were displaced. Although the security situation has improved following the peace agreement between the government and the FARC, parts of the South American country are still controlled by illegal groups.
Peace talks are currently underway with the guerrilla organization ELN. The government of President Gustavo Petro has made the complete pacification of the country through peace negotiations with all armed groups the goal of its presidency.