Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced an upcoming consultation on the continuation or suspension of negotiations with the ELN, after the death of nine soldiers on Wednesday (March 29th) in an attack...

Colombia: attack on barracks calls into question negotiations with ELN guerrillas

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on March 16, 2023 in Bogota (illustration image). REUTERS - LUISA GONZALEZ

Text by: RFI Follow

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With our correspondent in Bogota, Najet Benrabaa

The nine soldiers, the majority of whom were doing military service, were ambushed in the municipality of El Carmen in northeastern Colombia. The unit was guarding the Cano Limon-Coveas pipeline, the largest in the country, and a recurring target of the ELN, when it was targeted by IEDs and automatic weapons fire.

This region is known to be one of the most affected by violence, especially because El Carmen connects the center of the country with the road to the Caribbean coast. A route widely used by the ELN (National Liberation Army) guerrillas and criminal gangs linked to drug trafficking. This region is one of the largest producers of coca leaves in Colombia.

Meeting on the follow-up to the peace process on Monday

Wednesday's attack was blamed on the ELN, the last active guerrilla in the country. Since November, a guerrilla delegation has been negotiating peace with the government in an attempt to end nearly six decades of armed conflict. The dialogue had been broken off four years ago.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed his "total rejection of the attack on the army platoon in Catatumbo." "Seven soldiers doing their military service and two non-commissioned officers, soldiers of the nation and the government, killed by those who today are absolutely far from peace and the people," he wrote on Twitter.

pic.twitter.com/pKnqyBdMFO

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) March 29, 2023

This attack calls into question the negotiation process. President Gustavo Petro has convened representatives of each side for an unprecedented consultation next Monday. It will then decide whether or not to continue negotiations.

A first round of negotiations ended in December in Caracas with the announcement of the release of hostages and humanitarian actions. At the end of a second round in Mexico on 10 March, both sides committed to begin ceasefire talks. A third round, this time in Cuba, has been announced, although the date is not known. Since the beginning of the year, 23 soldiers have been killed.

Colombia: attack on barracks calls into question negotiations with ELN guerrillas

Colombia: attack on barracks calls into question negotiations with ELN guerrillas

Meeting on the follow-up to the peace process on Monday

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