In Pasto, Colombia, a significant step towards peace has been taken by the rebel group known as the Commoners of the South. This group, based in the Southwestern Nariño province, has commenced the process of surrendering its weapons to the Colombian government. This development is part of ongoing peace negotiations that aim for the group’s complete disarmament in the months ahead.
The Commoners of the South, consisting of around 250 fighters, have been engaged in dialogue with government representatives since last year. At a ceremony in Pasto, Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez celebrated what he described as a “historic moment.” He provided details on the agreements reached and indicated that recent days have seen the group hand over dangerous items like land mines, grenades, and rockets to military forces, who are now deactivating them.
“This will allow farmers to traverse these lands without the peril of encountering mines,” Sanchez remarked. The Commoners of the South were previously a faction within the larger National Liberation Army (ELN), a rebel group still engaged in conflict with the state. They distanced themselves from the ELN in May last year and initiated peace talks with President Gustavo Petro’s administration. This move led to tensions within the ELN, hindering its own discussions with the government.
President Petro, once involved in armed struggle himself, is pursuing peace demands with several insurgent groups and narcotic trafficking entities across Colombia through a strategy known as “total peace.” Despite these efforts, only the Commoners of the South have shown progress toward demilitarization. Gerson Arias, an analyst with the Ideas for Peace Foundation in Bogotá, points out that while this group represents merely one facet of the issues confronting Petro’s administration, it’s a promising development. “Reaching regional agreements with smaller factions, rather than broad national treaties, could alleviate some pressure on civilians,” Arias suggested.
Arias believes the talks with the Commoners of the South might be the sole successful negotiation during Petro’s tenure, but cited unresolved challenges, including addressing how victims of the rebels can access justice and achieve reconciliation. Colombia’s history of conflict saw a major turning point in 2016 with a peace agreement with the then-largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), resulting in the demobilization of over 13,000 fighters. However, FARC’s retreat created a vacuum eagerly filled by burgeoning groups, leading to continued violence and territorial disputes.
In rural zones, including Catatumbo near the Venezuelan border, state security is precarious amidst conflicts over drug trade routes and resource control. Earlier this year, these tensions led to significant displacements when the ELN instigated violence against communities suspected of supporting rival factions. After these hostilities, the Colombian government paused its peace efforts with the ELN, with Petro criticizing its leadership for an evolving focus on drug trafficking over revolutionary goals.
Efforts are now concentrated in Nariño, near the Ecuadorian boundary, where local leaders aspire for sustained government intervention to deter rebel encroachment through enhanced security and developmental initiatives. Giovanny Cardenas, a human rights advocate in Samaniego, expressed anticipation for comprehensive strategies should a peace accord be achieved with the Commoners of the South. “It would be tragic if this group demobilizes, only for another to resume conflict here,” Cardenas concluded.