BOGOTÁ, Colombia — On Sunday, Colombia’s largest remaining insurgent faction, the National Liberation Army (ELN), declared a unilateral ceasefire set to remain in effect until January 3. This announcement marks the first truce since the prior ceasefire unraveled in August.

In a public statement via X, the ELN indicated that it would refrain from military attacks as the country prepares to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s festivities. Colombian President Gustavo Petro shared this development on his own X account, emphasizing that achieving peace is the ultimate objective for Colombia by 2025.

The ELN was established in the 1960s by a coalition of university students, clergy, and labor leaders who were inspired by the Cuban revolution. Current estimates from the Ministry of Defense suggest that the group boasts approximately 6,000 members operating in Colombia and Venezuela. Its funding primarily stems from illicit mining, extortion schemes, and drug trafficking activities.

Following the 2016 peace agreement signed by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the ELN has managed to expand its presence in certain rural regions, stepping into areas left vulnerable after the FARC’s demobilization. Two years ago, the ELN initiated its peace negotiations with the Petro administration, leading to the revival of a ceasefire that commenced in August of the preceding year.

However, the dialogue came to a halt due to conflicts regarding the timeline for the ELN to cease its practices of kidnapping and imposing taxes on civilians. Additionally, the ELN leadership expressed frustration over the government’s decision to engage in separate discussions with a faction of the ELN located in southwestern Colombia.

Since the collapse of the ceasefire four months ago, there has been a notable escalation in attacks by the ELN targeting military installations and oil infrastructure near the Venezuela border. The Petro government has been actively pursuing peace negotiations with various armed groups in remote regions, as part of a broader strategy termed “total peace.” However, ELN leaders have critiqued the Petro administration for attempting to broker agreements with some factions rather than taking action against them.