Colombian government suspends military operations against FARC dissidents for 6 days

The Colombian government has temporarily suspended military and police operations against a FARC dissident faction for six days, a move aimed at facilitating peace negotiations.

The suspension, effective from June 14 to June 19, specifically targets the National Coordinator Army of Colombia (CNEB). The objective is to allow approximately 100 members of this dissident group to relocate to a designated Temporary Location Zone (ZUT) in the southern department of Putumayo. These zones are a key component of President Gustavo Petro's 'total peace' strategy, designed to help armed group members transition to civilian life.

This decision comes just before the second round of the presidential elections, scheduled for Sunday. Armando Novoa, the chief negotiator for the government in talks with the CNEB, had previously stated in April that details were being finalized for the group's entry into the Putumayo ZUT. The CNEB is an amalgamation of the Comando de Frontera and the Coordinadora Guerrillera del Pacífico, which separated from another FARC dissident group, Segunda Marquetalia, when it withdrew from peace talks.

Despite the ongoing peace process, the CNEB has been involved in violent incidents. In April, the group carried out attacks in Nariño department, resulting in three soldiers killed and four children injured. Following these attacks, the CNEB reaffirmed its commitment to refrain from offensive actions against public forces, including drone use. The group has also been linked to a May 2023 attack in the Ecuadorian Amazon that killed twelve people, including eleven soldiers, though the CNEB denied responsibility for that incident.