Violence in Colombia: Death Toll Rises as ELN Rebels Clash with FARC Dissidents
Conflict Escalates in Catatumbo Region
The death toll from attacks by ELN rebels in Colombia has risen to 60 in the country’s restive Catatumbo region near the border with Venezuela, officials said yesterday. Rival groups have been fighting in the region for years over control of the cocaine trade.
Fighting Intensifies
Fighting in recent days has pitted rebels from the left-wing National Liberation Army (ELN) against dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The state signed a peace deal with FARC in 2016, after more than 50 years of war. The ELN had also clashed with the Clan del Golfo, a right-wing paramilitary force turned trafficking gang which is the country’s largest cocaine cartel.
Military Commander’s Warning
"There is a very critical situation in this region of the country," military commander general Luis Emilio Cardozo said yesterday. The "break" of a truce between the ELN and FARC dissidents has caused "significant impact on the civilian population", he said in a video published by the military on X. "They have taken people from their homes and murdered them in a miserable way, violating all human rights of the people. It is up to us as the national army to stabilise the territory," Cardozo said, addressing hundreds of troops deployed in the region.
Government Suspends Peace Talks
After he was elected in 2022, President Gustavo Petro launched negotiations with the ELN and other armed groups that still control parts of Colombia on a promise to pursue "total peace". But he paused the already-sputtering process with the ELN on Friday during the fresh wave of unrest, accusing the group of committing "war crimes".
Humanitarian Crisis
Around 60 people have been killed across Catatumbo, Colombia’s ombudsman office said late yesterday, while some residents were "taking refuge in the mountains" to escape the violence. "Many people, including peace signatories, social leaders and their families, and even children, face a special risk of being kidnapped or killed," the office said. Affected communities were also beginning to suffer from food shortages, the office said, calling on the armed groups to allow access to humanitarian assistance and cease all attacks against civilians.
ELN’s Response
For its part, the ELN pointed the finger at the FARC dissidents. "The Catatumbo region knows well that we had warned that if the 33rd Front of the ex-FARC continued attacking the population and failing to comply with commitments, there was no other way out than armed confrontation," it said in a statement published on X.
ELN’s Power and Involvement in Drug Trade
With a force of about 5,800 combatants, the ELN is one of the biggest armed groups still active in Colombia. While claiming to be driven by leftist and nationalist ideology, the ELN is deeply involved in the drug trade and has become one of the region’s most powerful organised crime groups. Talks with the ELN broke down for several months last year after the group launched a deadly attack on a military base. Following the latest round of fighting, the president said the ELN "shows no willingness to make peace" in a post on X.
Displacement and Humanitarian Crisis
More than 2,500 people have fled the violence to Tibu, the town’s mayor Richar Claro said yesterday. Temporary shelters were opened around Tibu to house displaced people, who arrived in flat-bed trucks or cramped on motorbikes, with some carrying household belongings on their backs. "We are very afraid for the children and that we will be caught in the middle of the conflict," Carmelina Perez, 62, who had escaped with her grandchildren, told AFP. Across the border, Venezuela announced the launch of "a special operation to assist the civilian population displaced from Colombia", according to a government statement. Venezuelan foreign minister Yvan Gil told state television that "hundreds of families" have been forced to take refuge in Venezuela.
Conclusion
The ongoing violence in Colombia’s Catatumbo region is a stark reminder of the country’s ongoing conflict and the devastating impact it has on civilians. The ELN’s involvement in the drug trade and its willingness to use violence to achieve its goals has created a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent attention and action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the current death toll from the violence in Catatumbo?
A: The death toll has risen to 60.
Q: Who is involved in the conflict?
A: The ELN and FARC dissidents are the main groups involved in the conflict.
Q: What is the cause of the conflict?
A: The conflict is primarily over control of the cocaine trade.
Q: What is the humanitarian situation like?
A: The situation is dire, with many people displaced and facing food shortages.
Q: What is the government’s response?
A: The government has suspended peace talks with the ELN and is deploying troops to the region to stabilize the situation.