BOGOTA, Colombia — President Gustavo Petro announced on Monday his intention to declare a state of emergency due to a series of guerrilla assaults in the northeastern region of Colombia, which have resulted in numerous fatalities and caused widespread displacement of residents from their homes.
In a communication shared on X, Petro stated that he will “declare a state of internal commotion,” a measure that empowers the government to enact specific legislation without the need for congressional approval for a duration of three months. This initiative will take effect once Petro and his Cabinet sign the related decree; however, it has the potential to be overturned by Colombia’s constitutional court.
Historically, such internal commotion declarations were utilized during the early 2000s under former President Álvaro Uribe as a means to boost military funding via a special war tax. Colombia’s constitution mandates that this emergency measure cannot suspend congressional activities or curtail civil liberties. Petro expressed his hope for support from the judicial system via his message on X.
Earlier on the same day, Petro had cautioned that the military would adopt offensive measures against the National Liberation Army (ELN) following a recent surge in the group’s violent attacks in the Catatumbo area, which have resulted in at least 80 deaths. He asserted, “The ELN has chosen the path of war, and that’s what they will get,” further asserting that the group has shifted into drug trafficking, drawing parallels between their tactics and those once employed by notorious cartel leader Pablo Escobar, known for his brutal methods against government officials and rivals.
Petro, who previously belonged to a guerrilla faction in his youth, initiated peace discussions with the ELN in 2022, pledging during his campaign to achieve the demobilization of the rebels within three months of assuming the presidency. However, these negotiations have encountered significant challenges due to disagreements surrounding disarmament processes and the implementation of economic reforms the government would be willing to offer in exchange for the ELN’s disarmament. Additionally, the ELN has expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s separate negotiations with a splinter faction in the southwest, as well as persistent kidnappings and extortion incidents targeting civilians and businesses.
Following an escalation of violence in Catatumbo, Petro suspended ongoing discussions with the ELN on Friday. This mountainous region, which produces approximately 15% of Colombia’s coca crop, borders Venezuela and has been a hotbed for conflict.
Reports indicate that the ELN, estimated to consist of around 6,000 fighters, has targeted civilians suspected of collaborating with a rival group, the FARC-EMC, resulting in forced evacuations and shootings in public areas, with armed confrontations erupting in rural zones between the two groups.
On Monday, ELN leader Antonio García claimed that his organization does not aim to attack civilians, focusing instead on former rebel members who are now aiding the FARC-EMC. However, a mass exodus occurred over the weekend as thousands fled from towns in Catatumbo amid fears for their safety, including community leaders threatened by the ELN. This group includes former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), who had demobilized following a 2016 peace agreement with the government, yet now find themselves targeted by the ELN.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported on Monday that the recent violence in Catatumbo has displaced approximately 18,300 individuals, who are seeking refuge in shelters and hotels in the cities of Tibu, Ocaña, and Cúcuta. Officials in these areas are warning of an impending humanitarian crisis.
Sandra Tijaro, a farmer from northeastern Colombia, shared her experience, explaining that she fled her village on Friday after armed men ordered residents to leave. She is currently staying in a shelter in Tibu with her children. “We want the armed groups to think about the welfare of rural folks,” she stated. “We are hard-working people who end up carrying the burden of this conflict.”
The peace agreement signed in 2016 between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia facilitated the demobilization of around 11,000 fighters, yet it inadvertently created a power void in some rural regions. This has allowed smaller armed factions to attempt to take control, leaving the government struggling to manage rising violence directed at civilians.
