Bogota: Colombia’s Army reported on Saturday that 104 members of a Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) faction, including 20 minors, have deserted the group. The development comes as the faction faces a fierce offensive by the National Liberation Army (ELN) in northeastern Colombia.
The ELN launched its offensive over a week ago in the Catatumbo region, located in the Norte de Santander department near the Venezuelan border. This surge in violence prompted President Gustavo Petro to suspend peace negotiations with the ELN—a significant setback to his broader strategy of ending Colombia’s six-decade internal conflict that has resulted in over 450,000 deaths.
The government had been engaged in peace talks with both the ELN and FARC factions as part of Petro’s efforts to establish lasting peace. However, the ELN’s aggression against the FARC faction has disrupted this process, further complicating the already fragile negotiations.
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President Petro emphasized the importance of prioritizing human rights and safeguarding civilians, especially minors affected by the ongoing conflict.
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