Colombia Declares Emergency as Guerrilla Violence Escalates

Fighting between ELN rebels and FARC dissidents in Catatumbo has killed over 80, displaced thousands, and threatens President Petro's peace strategy.

More than 80 people have been killed and over 18,000 displaced in Colombia's northeastern Catatumbo region due to clashes between the ELN and FARC dissidents.
The violence marks one of the deadliest periods since the 2016 peace accords and undermines President Gustavo Petro's 'total peace' initiative.
The ELN, accused of targeting civilians and former FARC combatants, has been blamed for house-to-house killings and massacres, though the group denies responsibility for some attacks.
Control over cocaine production, extortion rackets, and strategic smuggling routes along the Colombian-Venezuelan border are key drivers of the conflict.
Petro has suspended peace talks with the ELN, declared a state of emergency, and vowed military action, further straining relations with Venezuela, which has been accused of supporting the ELN.