Colombia - January 2025

Throughout January, a series of clashes in Catatumbo between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and a dissident faction of the dissolved Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have resulted in the deaths of over 50 people, including community leaders, civilians and demobilized FARC rebels, and to the displacement of over 50,000 people. The confrontation was fueled by territorial disputes over drug trafficking routes in an area that is key to cocaine production. The events have been described as one of the country’s most dramatic humanitarian crises in contemporary history. President Petro announced an “internal state of commotion” that grants him special powers to address the causes of the crisis and contain its effects. He also suspended peace negotiations with the ELN.
The events have underscored shortcomings in the implementation of the 2016 peace accords and in the country’s ability to protect peace signatories. They have also highlighted the fragility of the ongoing peace talks, now at their most precarious moment.

Sources: Bogota Post, North American Congress on Latin America, Insight Crime, New York Times, El Pais, Razon Publica