ELN Guerrilla Faction Pledges Demining in Colombia as Peace Gesture

In a recent development, a faction of the National Liberation Army (ELN) in Colombia has committed to participating in “humanitarian de-mining” within its area of influence in the southwest of the country. This initiative is part of a broader gesture of peace aimed at facilitating dialogue with the Colombian government.

ELN faction’s commitment to de-mining as peace gesture

The “Comuneros del Sur” Front, associated with the ELN but previously not involved in the peace discussions initiated by President Gustavo Petro’s administration in November 2022, has now decided to engage in the peace process. Their commitment to mine clearance was announced through a video released by the state television RTVC, where a spokesperson, surrounded by armed members of the faction, declared their readiness to start the humanitarian de-mining process in the Nariño department as a concrete action towards peace.

Government response and peace negotiations

The Colombian government, represented by the High Commissioner for Peace, Otty Patiño, has welcomed this development. Patiño emphasized the importance of such actions in facilitating investments and projects beneficial to local communities. The collaboration between the government and this ELN faction aims to address the issue of landmines, which, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),has resulted in 515 victims in 2022, including 56 fatalities.

The peace talks between the government and the ELN are taking place against a backdrop of uncertainty regarding the rebel group’s command structure. The negotiations, held in Venezuela, Mexico, and Cuba, have seen moments of tension, notably when ELN negotiators paused the discussions in response to the government’s outreach to ELN factions in Nariño. Despite these challenges, the government remains hopeful that internal differences within the ELN can be resolved positively.

The ELN has been active since 1964 and is estimated to have around 5,800 fighters. Its structure allows for considerable autonomy among its various fronts, complicating the peace negotiation process. President Petro, the first leftist leader of Colombia, is pursuing a negotiated end to the decades-long conflict, building on the 2016 peace agreement with the FARC, which significantly reduced the level of violence in the country.