Colombia Suspends Peace Talks With ELN After Border Region Violence

President Gustavo Petro halts negotiations, citing war crimes by ELN amid deadly clashes with rival groups near Venezuela border.

At least 39 people were killed in clashes involving the ELN, FARC dissidents, and criminal gangs in northeastern Colombia's Catatumbo region and Bolivar department.
The violence included house-to-house attacks by ELN fighters and displaced dozens of families, with over 20 people reported missing.
President Gustavo Petro accused the ELN of committing war crimes and announced the suspension of peace talks, stating the group lacks the will for peace.
The clashes highlight ongoing territorial disputes linked to the cocaine trade, with Catatumbo being a major coca production area.
Petro's 'total peace' policy, aimed at ending decades of armed conflict, faces significant challenges as violence persists despite previous ceasefires and negotiations.