Colombia: ELN declares unilateral ceasefire June 15-19

Event

The ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional) has declared a unilateral ceasefire from 00:00 (local time) on Friday, June 15, through 23:59 on Tuesday, June 19, to facilitate the holding of the second round of presidential elections on Sunday, June 17. A heightened security presence is expected near polling places ahead of and during the vote on Sunday.

Context

The ELN - the country's last remaining rebel group following the demobilization of the FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) - is believed to have around 1500 fighters in Colombia. The group agreed to a similar ceasefire with the government in mid-May for the first round of the elections.

The Colombian government and the ELN are currently negotiating in Cuba to end their decades-long conflict which has left some 220,000 people dead and millions of others displaced.

Advice

Individuals in Colombia are advised to keep abreast of the situation. Due to the presence of a number of armed groups, some Western governments advise against travel to various regions of the country.