Colombia has decided to halt peace negotiations with the rebel group National Liberation Army (ELN) following an attack that resulted in the death of two soldiers and left over 20 individuals injured. The government’s peace delegation announced the suspension, stating that the viability of the dialogue process has been severely compromised and can only resume upon a clear demonstration of ELN’s commitment to peace.
The incident marks a significant setback in the peace talks initiated in November 2022 under the administration of President Gustavo Petro, the country’s first leftist president who launched discussions with various armed groups as part of a policy termed total peace. The ELN, which terminated a cease-fire with the government in August, was engaged in negotiations aimed at ending the longstanding conflict spanning more than five decades.
The Colombian army reported that the ELN carried out the attack by launching homemade rockets from a cargo truck near a base in Puerto Jordan, located in Arauca province. Despite the attack, the rebel group has not claimed responsibility for the violence. Founded in the 1960s by union leaders and university students inspired by the Cuban Revolution, the ELN is estimated to have around 6,000 fighters across Colombia and Venezuela, sustaining itself through activities like drug trafficking and illegal gold mining.
With the ELN expanding into rural areas previously occupied by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a major rebel group that reached a peace agreement with the Colombian government in 2016, tensions have escalated. The recent attack in Arauca resulted in the deaths of two soldiers, with 26 others sustaining injuries, as disclosed by Defense Minister Iván Velásquez.
The wounded individuals were airlifted to a military hospital in Bogotá for treatment, with President Petro personally visiting them. The hospital’s medical update indicated that 13 patients are in stable condition, mostly with soft tissue injuries, while five are receiving intensive care. In response to the attack, authorities have announced a reward for information leading to the capture of the perpetrators, as well as a separate reward for the apprehension of ELN’s top leaders.
Petro drew parallels between the Arauca attack and a 2019 incident where the ELN targeted a police school in Bogotá, resulting in the deaths of 22 people and numerous injuries, leading to the suspension of peace talks during the tenure of former President Iván Duque.
