At least 80 people have been killed and thousands displaced after a fragile truce between rebel groups in north-east Colombia collapsed, sparking rapid escalation of violence. The National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) have clashed in the lawless region bordering Venezuela since Thursday.
Emergency humanitarian assistance has been requested as schools were converted into shelters for displaced families. At least 3,000 people are said to be displaced in Tibú municipality alone, with many left behind as their farms and crops. Civilians have been injured, and 20 people, including 10 women, have been kidnapped.
The current clashes are among the worst since Colombian President Gustavo Petro took office in 2022, promising to bring “total peace” to the nation. Petro cut off talks with the ELN after the rebels were accused of killing members of a rival faction.
Tensions had long been building between rebel groups, particularly in Catatumbo, where extensive coca crops and strategic location have fueled persistent violence. The dissident Farc’s 33rd front has clashed with the ELN, using tactics such as buying off community support by building infrastructure.
The collapse of the truce has dealt a significant blow to Petro’s “Total Peace” strategy, which aimed to bring all major armed groups to the negotiating table. According to researcher Gerson Arias, this development makes negotiations with the ELN impossible and likely to derail discussions altogether.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/19/colombia-national-liberation-army