Colombia: ELN attacks in Arauca department Sep. 23

Event

Three policemen were injured in Arauca department on Saturday, September 23, during two separate attacks. One officer was injured by a blast near a police station in Arauquita, while two others were injured in a shootout during a patrol in the city of Arauca. Authorities suspect that the attackers in both instances were members of the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group.

Context

The Colombian government and the ELN announced on September 4 that both sides had agreed to a 102-day bilateral ceasefire between October 1, 2017, and January 12, 2018. However, violence remains possible ahead of and during this period. The ELN, the country's last remaining rebel group following the demobilization of the FARC, is present in various areas of the country including Arauca, Boyacá, Norte de Santander, La Guajira, Cesar, Bolívar, Casanare, Santander, Chocó, Cauca, Nariño, and Putumayo departments, particularly in rural zones. The ELN and the Colombian government have been engaged in an armed conflict for 53 years.

Advice

Due to the presence of a number of armed groups - including organized crime groups, drug cartels, right-wing militias, and local gangs in addition to the ELN - many Western governments advise against travel to various regions of the country (particularly rural zones), with the notable exceptions of the northern Caribbean regions and central areas (including Bogotá).