Colombian government and National Liberation Army guerrillas sign six-month ceasefire agreement

The Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN), the last guerrilla still active in the South American country, signed a six-month ceasefire agreement in Havana (Cuba) on Friday, June 9. “Here a new world is born, here ends a phase of the armed insurrection in Latin America with its myths and realities”said Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president and ex-guerrilla himself.

“This peace process must be different, we must see changes”, urged the First Commander of the ELN, Antonio Garcia. Before specifying: “We have not yet signed any substantial agreements”but only “procedural agreements”. The presence of the guerrilla leader in Havana had not been announced, but an arrest warrant issued against him had been suspended a few days ago by the Colombian prosecutor’s office, ultimately allowing him to come to the Cuban capital.

After a preparatory phase, the ceasefire agreement is expected to enter into force on August 3. “From this date the 180 days of validity will count down”, or the equivalent of six months, said Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, reading the various points of the “Cuban Accords”. Under the leadership of Gustavo Petro, the Colombian government has been negotiating since the end of 2022 with the ELN, the last guerrilla formed as such still active in Colombia.