Thousands have escaped a sudden outbreak of drug-related violence between two armed groups in northeastern Colombia.
![Colombians displaced by attacks by rebels of the National Liberation Army (ELN) wait for donations of food and clothing at the General Santander Stadium in Cucuta, Colombia January 22, 2025. [Nathalia Angarita/Reuters] (Reuters)](/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-01-23T044046Z_520430057_RC28FCA03L09_RTRMADP_3_COLOMBIA-CONFLICT-1737728540.jpg?resize=570%2C380&quality=80)
Attacks by rebel ELN fighters in the Catatumbo region have forced thousands of people to flee the area.
Government talks with armed groups have stalled. Experts say a smaller-scale ‘territorial’ approach might be the answer.
Officials hope Salvatore Mancuso will reveal information about hundreds of murders and forced disappearances.
The two sides have agreed to extend a landmark deal struck in August that expired last week.
Colombia has experienced a surge in kidnappings in 2023, but negotiations with armed groups might herald a breakthrough.
Defence Minister Ivan Velasquez has apologised to families of 19 civilians killed by soldiers under false pretenses.
The agreement is a milestone for the Colombian government, though doubts remain over its ability to reduce violence.
Colombia’s government seeks to draw urban criminal networks into disarmament talks as it pursues ‘total peace’.
The agreement is a significant success for President Gustavo Petro’s agenda of ‘total peace’ after previous setbacks.
The decision targets members of the Estado Mayor Central rebel group after reports of minors being forcibly recruited.
Peace talks between the rebel group and the Colombian government have entered their third round of negotiations in Cuba.
The Estado Mayor Central armed group, a FARC breakaway organisation, says it is ready to start peace talks on May 16.
As armed groups continue to jostle for power, the Red Cross reports a six-year high in civilians injured by explosives.
