Colombia: Government-ELN ceasefire to expire on January 9

Event

A 102-day bilateral ceasefire between the ELN guerrilla group and the Colombian government is set to expire on Tuesday, January 9. A new round of peace talks between representatives of the two groups is expected to take place in Ecuador starting on that date; an extension of the truce is relatively likely. Even if the ceasefire does come to an end, it will not likely herald a major uptick in violence, although clashes remain possible.

Context

Peace talks between the ELN and the Colombian government were launched in February 2017. However, the militant group has remained 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 Nariño, Arauca, Boyacá, Norte de Santander, La Guajira, Cesar, Bolívar, Casanare, Santander, Chocó, Cauca, and Putumayo departments, particularly in rural zones.

Advice

Individuals in Colombia are advised to monitor developments to the situation.

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 - some Western governments advise against travel to various parts of the country.​