The violence in Colombia’s Catatumbo region has claimed 60 lives due to clashes between the National Liberation Army and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. This escalation has disrupted peace negotiations and heightened risks for local leaders and communities, resulting in food shortages and significant displacement. The Colombian government aims to restore stability by deploying additional military forces to the area.
Violence from a rebel group in Colombia’s Catatumbo region has resulted in a death toll of 60 individuals, according to the country’s human rights office. This escalating conflict arises from rival factions competing for dominance in the lucrative cocaine trade, particularly near the border with Venezuela. The recent unrest involved the National Liberation Army (ELN), the largest remaining armed group in Colombia, and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), which had previously entered a peace accord with the government in 2016.
The Ombudsman’s Office noted that the attacks have disrupted a fragile truce between the guerrilla factions, which had engaged in discussions with the government. Initially, 40 fatalities were reported due to the violence, but the number has now surged to 60, with numerous community leaders and their families facing severe risks of kidnapping or murder at the hands of the ELN. The office highlighted that over 20 individuals had recently been abducted, half of whom were women.
Tragically, among the deceased are seven individuals who had signed the peace treaty, including Carmelo Guerrero, the leader of the local advocacy group Asuncat. The group reported that two board members had disappeared, raising suspicions that armed factions had captured them. Furthermore, the Ombudsman’s Office indicated that certain communities are beginning to experience food shortages, with thousands displaced by ongoing violence, impacting vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and individuals with disabilities.
A local women’s association condemned the bloodshed, stating, “Catatumbo is once again stained with blood.” They lamented that the violence inflicted by combatants does not solely harm those wielding weapons but also devastates community aspirations, disrupts families, and instills fear in children. The Ombudsman’s Office has attributed much of the recent turmoil to the ELN, which had been in ongoing peace negotiations before violence resulted in their suspension.
President Gustavo Petro has condemned the ELN’s actions, labeling them as “war crimes” and asserting their unwillingness to pursue peace. Conversely, the ELN has accused the Farc of instigating conflict through civilian casualties, a claim that has yet to receive a public response from the Farc. In light of these developments, the Colombian army has announced plans to deploy additional troops to the Catatumbo region to restore order.
Colombia has long grappled with violence related to drug trafficking and armed groups vying for control of lucrative markets, particularly cocaine production. The Catatumbo region has become a focal point of conflict due to its strategic location near the Venezuela border, where various factions struggle for influence. Historical peace efforts, such as the 2016 treaty with Farc, aimed to reduce violence but remain fragile, with ongoing skirmishes underscoring the difficulties in achieving sustained stability. The National Liberation Army (ELN) stands as the largest guerrilla group still active in Colombia, and its ongoing clash with former Farc members reflects deeper rifts in the region’s security landscape. The Colombian government has made efforts to negotiate with these groups, but violence continues to thwart peace initiatives, leading to dire humanitarian consequences for local communities.
The recent surge in violence in Catatumbo, resulting in 60 fatalities, highlights the persistent instability in Colombia due to power struggles among armed groups involved in the cocaine trade. The conflict, which has disrupted a fragile peace process, has particularly affected vulnerable populations, including women and children. While the government seeks to restore order through increased military presence, the underlying issues surrounding drug-related violence and armed conflict remain complex and challenging to resolve.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
