News Break
Thirty people have been killed in violent confrontations between rival leftist groups near Colombia’s troubled border with Venezuela, leading President Gustavo Petro to suspend peace talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN). The president accused the ELN of committing “war crimes” amid this latest outbreak of violence, which also resulted in 20 injuries.
The clashes reportedly saw ELN members targeting dissidents from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in the country’s challenging mountainous terrain. This incident represents a significant political setback for Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president, who has linked his political future to a “Total Peace” policy aimed at negotiating with armed groups that many Colombians view unfavorably.
“We are suspending dialogue with this group because the ELN shows no willingness to make peace,” stated Petro. Although FARC signed a peace deal in 2016, ending over 50 years of conflict, some factions have refused to disarm. Previous negotiations with the ELN were disrupted last year following a deadly attack on a military base, underscoring the ongoing difficulties in achieving sustainable peace in the region.
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