BAGOTA, Columbia: Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels have announced their withdrawal from peace negotiations with the government, citing alleged violations of ground rules established when the talks commenced in 2022.
The ELN, in a statement released on Tuesday, stated that the ongoing sixth-round discussions, held in Cuba, are now considered “frozen” until President Gustavo Petro’s administration fulfills its commitments.
The rebels raised concerns over the regional level talks initiated by the government in the Narino department, which they argue contradicts the national-level negotiation framework. This deviation, according to the ELN, has pushed the peace process into a state of crisis.
Since assuming office in 2022, President Petro has pursued a comprehensive peace agenda aimed at ending Colombia’s long-standing conflict involving security forces, guerrillas, paramilitaries, and drug cartels. However, achieving lasting peace has encountered obstacles, particularly with armed groups such as the ELN, which continue to engage in illicit activities like drug trafficking.
The ELN, comprising approximately 5,800 fighters, has operated since its inception in 1964, primarily in western Colombia along the Pacific coast and in the northeast bordering Venezuela.
The withdrawal from peace talks marks a setback in Colombia’s quest for reconciliation, as successive rounds of negotiations held in various countries, including Venezuela, Mexico, and Cuba, with the assistance of guarantor nations like Brazil, Chile, and Norway, have aimed to broker a lasting peace agreement.
