In Bogota on January 22, the attorney general's office of Colombia reissued arrest warrants for leaders of the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels. This follows a surge in forced displacement – reaching 32,000 people – due to ELN attacks. The violence escalation in the Catatumbo region, along the eastern border with Venezuela, has severely impacted President Gustavo Petro's peace efforts to end a six-decade-long conflict, marking a major humanitarian crisis in Colombia.
President Petro, aiming to halt the conflict that has claimed over 450,000 lives, suspended peace talks with the ELN after their recent attacks against another rebel group. The attorney general's office revoked benefits and warrants for 31 ELN representatives recognized by the national government as negotiators.
The ELN's recent offensive targets a faction of former FARC rebels who did not accept the 2016 peace accord, aligning with the government, as well as demobilized rebels supporting them. Despite accusations, the ELN denies targeting civilians. Human rights ombudsman Iris Marin reported on Tuesday that the crisis in Catatumbo resulted in 32,000 displaced individuals, stating 35 casualties and ongoing evacuation efforts.
Security sources suggest that the ELN exploited peace talks with Petro's administration to bolster its military power and territorial control, underscoring the complexity and challenges in Colombia's peace process.