Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Prisoner Society: Administrative detainee Louay Nasrallah, 22, from Jenin, martyred in "Israel’s" Soroka Hospital
Iran's judiciary: 935 people killed in Israeli strikes on Iran.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Knesset committee votes to advance impeachment of Arab MK Ayman Odeh.
TASS: Car explosion east of Moscow, ambulances rush to scene.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Over 10 martyrs and several wounded as Israeli forces opened fire on aid seekers on al-Tina Street, southwest of Khan Younis
A vehicle exploded in Washington, DC, the United States.
The Israeli occupation forces are carrying out extensive air raids on eastern and northeastern Gaza.
Israeli media: One Israeli soldier killed in a "security incident" in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Israeli media: Intense exchange of fire in Khan Younis
Israeli media platform reports on a tough incident in Gaza still under media censorship

Colombia, ELN six-month ceasefire deal goes into effect

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 3 Aug 2023 18:57
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

This comes in the context of a peace deal to end decades of bloody conflict as the Colombian government and the ELN guerrilla group agreed on June 10 to a six-month ceasefire in the Cuban capital, Havana.

  • x
  • Colombia's President Gustavo Petro delivers a speech during the inauguration of a congressional session in Bogota, Colombia, on July 20, 2023 (AP)
    Colombia's President Gustavo Petro delivers a speech during the inauguration of a congressional session in Bogota, Colombia, on July 20, 2023 (AP)

A six-month ceasefire between the Colombian government and the country’s largest remaining armed rebel group, reached in the Cuban capital, Havana, on June 10, has entered into force, in the largest victory for President Gustavo Petro in his push to end decades of armed conflict.

The breakthrough is the most solid progress made by the government of Colombia's first left-wing leader, Gustavo Petro, on the path toward an end to the country's 60-year-long conflict with the armed group.

The ceasefire will last until February if not broken, having been the result of peace talks that restarted last year in a bid to rid the country of the conflict that has so far claimed the lives of at least 450,000 people.

"The ELN central command orders all units to suspend offensive operations against the armed forces, police, and security organizations of the Colombian state," ELN commander Eliecer Herlinto Chamorro - also known as Antonio Garcia - said Monday.

Garcia underlined that the ELN, a Marxist-Leninist guerrilla group that has been involved in the liberation of Colombia from US imperialism since 1964, would continue to defend itself during the ceasefire if needed.

Moreover, the government's high peace commissioner, Danilo Rueda, on Tuesday said the ceasefire would prevent violence and human rights abuses like kidnappings.

Petro and the negotiating teams will be inaugurating a committee to guarantee civil society's presence at the talks on Thursday after the remarkable agreement gave momentum to the Petro administration.

On June 10, the Colombian government and the ELN guerrilla group agreed to a six-month ceasefire in the Cuban capital, Havana, as they worked toward a peace deal to end decades of bloody conflict.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez announced that a deal for a "bilateral, national and temporary ceasefire" was signed in the presence of Colombian President Gustavo Petro and ELN leader Antonio Garcia.

Related News

Trump's return ramps up US pressure on Caracas: Venezuelan official

Fourth suspect arrested in Colombia's Uribe assassination attempt

This came after the government and the ELN announced in March that they had agreed to begin negotiating a ceasefire as the two sides wrapped up a second round of peace talks in Mexico.

An agreement dating back to March said the goal of the talks was reaching an accord based on international humanitarian law.

A truce was the desire of "the entire Colombian nation," government negotiator Otty Patino indicated, adding, "We have heard that cry, and we feel that the ELN delegation has also heard it."

Read next: Colombian President announces ceasefire with rebel groups

The talks took place right after the left-wing leader took office back last August after former governments failed to reach any sort of accord with the rebels.

Petro suggested a multilateral ceasefire after taking office to all armed groups operating in the country in an effort to endorse peace and end decades of internal conflict.

Petro assumed office on August 7 and was a member of the M-19 insurgency - a militant faction that participated in the internal armed conflict between 1974-1990, and his call for a ceasefire came less than three weeks later.

His conservative predecessor Ivan Duque suspended the talks following a car bomb attack on a police academy in Bogota that left 22 people dead.

The negotiators reported earlier that the Colombian government had recognized the ELN as a political organization, as well as a rebel group, distinguishing it from other armed gangs, such as drug traffickers.

Colombia's first Black Vice President, Francia Marquez, who was at the conclusion of the talks in Mexico, urged the negotiators to "stay at the table no matter what" - and that they did.

Founded in 1964 by trade unionists and students, the ELN has taken part in failed negotiations with Colombia's last five presidents.

  • Colombia
  • ELN
  • National Liberation Army
  • Gustavo Petro

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iran says targeted US Qatar air base under Op. Annunciation of Victory

Iran says targeted US Qatar air base under Op. Annunciation of Victory

  • MENA
  • 23 Jun 2025
Gaza

7 Israeli soldiers killed in double ambush by Gaza Resistance

  • Palestine
  • 24 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Women comfort each other by a vehicle that was burnt overnight by Israeli settlers in an attack that killed three Palestinians and burnt several vehicles and damaged homes, in Kafr Malik, east of Ramallah, Thursday, June 26, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Settlers shoot and assault Palestinians in Hizma, Masafer Yatta

Syria's interim leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, walks in the presidential palace ahead of a meeting in Damascus, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP)
Politics

Syria open to al-Sharaa-Netanyahu meeting at UN assembly

Former Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani speaks with media at the Interior Ministry in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 31, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' failed to topple Iran, lost 12-day war, Larijani says

Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP)
Politics

War on Gaza failed to achieve objectives in Gaza

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS