Colombia: Government-ELN ceasefire reached September 4

Event

The Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group announced on Monday, September 4, that both sides have agreed to a temporary, 102-day bilateral ceasefire to begin October 1, and end January 12, 2018. According to a statement made by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, the ceasefire may be extended past January 12 if its terms are mutually respected.

The ceasefire agreement comes after months of negotiations, and a week before Pope Francis' planned five-day visit to the Colombian cities of Bogotá, Villavicencio, Medellín, and Cartagena. Colombian government officials stated that details of the ceasefire, as well as verification measures to be implemented, are still under review as of September 4.

Context

Peace talks between the ELN and the Colombian government were launched in February 2017; however, the militant group has remained highly active in the country since the beginning of these negotiations, attacking oil pipelines and military convoys, kidnapping people for ransom, and extorting money from foreign mining and oil companies. 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 in an armed conflict for 53 years.

Meanwhile, paramilitary crime organizations (BACRIM) have replaced leftist guerrillas as the most serious armed threat in Colombia today, and have become increasingly active in recent months.

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).