Colombian President Suspends Peace Talks with ELN After Attacks

Bogotá, Colombia – Colombian President Gustavo Petro has announced the suspension of peace talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels, citing recent attacks by the group in the northeast reg

In a statement on social media, Petro declared, "The dialogue process with this group is suspended; the ELN has no will for peace." The decision comes after ELN fighters were reportedly responsible for the deaths of at least five members of the demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on Thursday, according to Reuters. The ELN also attacked a dissident faction of FARC, known as the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), which is engaged in its own peace talks with the government.

The UN’s representative to Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, condemned the violence and urged all armed groups to protect civilians. “The true will for dialogue requires respecting the lives of those who have opted for peace,” he said in a statement.

The attacks have escalated tensions in the volatile Catatumbo region, where illicit activities such as drug trafficking have fueled decades of conflict. Al Jazeera’s Alessandro Rampietti reported that the violence in the area has intensified recently, with over 70 families fleeing the region as the ELN targets its perceived enemies with unprecedented brutality.

This marks a setback in the peace process, which had seen mixed results since it began in 2024. Although the Colombian government reached a six-month truce with the ELN last year, violence from both the ELN and FARC dissidents has repeatedly disrupted negotiations. The government had hoped to extend the truce but suspended talks in September following another deadly attack by the ELN on government forces.

Since taking office in 2022, Petro, a left-wing leader, has prioritized efforts to bring "total peace" to Colombia, emphasizing ceasefires and negotiations with armed groups. However, despite some progress in reducing violence, conflicts between armed factions and with Colombian security forces have continued.

Human Rights Watch recently reported ongoing abuses by armed groups and criticized the government's response, pointing out that security forces and judicial authorities have often failed to protect civilians or address the actions of criminal organizations.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has once again called for a ceasefire, urging both parties to agree on a new truce to ensure the safety of affected communities and strengthen peace efforts in the region.

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