More than 80 people have been killed, and over 5,000 displaced in northeastern Colombia’s Catatumbo region after intense clashes between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
The violence erupted last Thursday following the breakdown of peace talks between the Colombian government and the ELN.
The fighting began when ELN forces attacked dissident FARC units in Catatumbo, a region near the Venezuelan border that is a major hub for coca cultivation and drug trafficking. Both groups are vying for control of the area.
El #ELN toma a sangre y fuego 7 municipios de #Colombia , atacando a la población civil y a los #FARC , van más de 80 muertos, y miles de desplazados.
El gobierno del #Petro suspende los diálogos de paz con este grupo armado. pic.twitter.com/sIn7rTpchf
— Alerta Noticias UKR 24 (@UKR_token) January 19, 2025
Among those killed were civilians, former FARC combatants who had disarmed under the 2016 peace agreement, and a community leader, Carmelo Guerrero. At least 20 people, including 10 women, were reportedly kidnapped during the violence.
The violence has forced thousands to flee their homes, with many seeking refuge in government shelters or hiding in nearby mountains. Schools have been closed, and classrooms are now being used as emergency shelters.
Colombian Defense Minister Iván Velásquez announced that 10 tons of emergency aid, including food and hygiene kits, have been sent to affected areas. The military has deployed 5,000 soldiers to establish a humanitarian corridor and protect fleeing civilians.
The unrest followed the government’s suspension of peace talks with the ELN, the fifth attempt at negotiations since President Gustavo Petro took office in 2022. Tensions between the ELN and FARC dissidents have grown in recent years, with both sides blaming each other for attacks on civilians.
