General information
Type of Incompatibility: Government
Comment on Type of Incompatibility: The conflict in Colombia has been over the type of rule, the guerrillas have fought to install left-wing government.
Date of first stated goal of incompatibility: 1964-07-20
Comment on date of first stated goals of incompatibility: The FARC is founded as such on 1966 but some guerrilla activities related to a stated incompatibility took place since 1964 under the name of Bloque Guerrillero Sur. After the implementation of Plan LASOs military phase in May 1964, the survivors of the Marquetalia "commune" held a meeting on May 27, with key leaders such Manuel Marulanda and Jacobo Arenas. The agenda of this meeting was to create a more formal insurgent organization with the main goal of seizing power from capitalists and directing Colombian society according to the lines developed from anthropology-based Marxist theories. At the end of the meeting, clearly defined ideas were in place, which continued to be used for the later birth of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC in 1966. The different commandos that conformed the FARC had received support from the PCC -Partido Comunista de Colombia Communist Party of Colombia since 1952. The document produced from 25 April to 5 May 1966 brought the different guerrilla commandos together and adopted the name of FARC. It also stated that the group would initiate a struggle to trigger a popular insurrection and to take over power to change it for one of the people. The FARC adopted the termination EP Ejército Popular Peoples Army in 1982.
Date of first use of armed force: 1964-01-01
Comment on first use of armed force: The FARC is founded as such on 1966 but some guerrilla activities related to a stated incompatibility took place since 1964 under the name of Bloque Guerrillero Sur. After the implementation of Plan LASOs military phase in May 1964, the survivors of the Marquetalia "commune" held a meeting on May 27, with key leaders such Manuel Marulanda and Jacobo Arenas. The agenda of this meeting was to create a more formal insurgent organization with the main goal of seizing power from capitalists and directing Colombian society according to the lines developed from anthropology-based Marxist theories. At the end of the meeting, clearly defined ideas were in place, which continued to be used for the later birth of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC in 1966. The different commandos that conformed the FARC had received support from the PCC -Partido Comunista de Colombia Communist Party of Colombia since 1952. The document produced from 25 April to 5 May 1966 brought the different guerrilla commandos together and adopted the name of FARC. It also stated that the group would initiate a struggle to trigger a popular insurrection and to take over power to change it for one of the people. The FARC adopted the termination EP Ejército Popular Peoples Army in 1982.
Date of first battle related death: 1964-01-01
Comment on first battle related death: The FARC is founded as such on 1966 but some guerrilla activities related to a stated incompatibility took place since 1964 under the name of Bloque Guerrillero Sur. After the implementation of Plan LASOs military phase in May 1964, the survivors of the Marquetalia "commune" held a meeting on May 27, with key leaders such Manuel Marulanda and Jacobo Arenas. The agenda of this meeting was to create a more formal insurgent organization with the main goal of seizing power from capitalists and directing Colombian society according to the lines developed from anthropology-based Marxist theories. At the end of the meeting, clearly defined ideas were in place, which continued to be used for the later birth of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC in 1966. The attacks by Southern bloc most likely resulted in battle-related deaths during 1964
Date of conflict reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1964-12-31
Comment on conflict reached 25 battle releated deaths: Even though there are not enough reports to appoint a precise date, it is accurate to believe that by the end of 1964 Southern Bloc armed activities related to their incompatibility had reached 25 battle-related deaths.
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1975
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1976
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1977
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 34 |
| Best | 34 |
| Low | 34 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1978
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - FARC, M-19
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 310 |
| Best | 310 |
| Low | 309 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1979
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - FARC, M-19
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 152 |
| Best | 152 |
| Low | 152 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1980
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 45 |
| Best | 45 |
| Low | 45 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1981
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - FARC, M-19
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 328 |
| Best | 328 |
| Low | 328 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1982
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - FARC, M-19
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 280 |
| Best | 280 |
| Low | 280 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1983
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - FARC, M-19
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 347 |
| Best | 347 |
| Low | 347 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1984
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, EPL, FARC, M-19
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 514 |
| Best | 514 |
| Low | 489 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Acuerdo entre el Gobierno y el Movimiento 19 de Abril (M-19) y el Partido Comunista De Colombia (M-L) y su organización guerrillera, Ejército Popular de Liberación (EPL) ("Acuerdos de Corinto")
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1984-08-24
Comment of peace agreement: Peace process agreement
The agreement provided for a ceasefire to start on 30 August 1984.
The most essential part of the agreement was the establishment of a national dialogue in which the different forces of the country were allowed to participate with full representation. The national dialogue would address central issues such as democratic development of political, economic and social reforms that the country required. It would also address institutional, agrarian, labor and urban, justice, education, university, health, public services and economic development.
Regarding the incompatibility, this agreement initiated steps toward potential political and social reform.
Signatories: Por La Comisión De Negociación Y Diálogo: Bernardo Ramírez - Alfonso Gómez Gómez - Horacio Serpa Uribe - Abel Rodríguez - Enrique Santos - Laura Restrepo.
Por El Movimiento 19 De Abril, M-19: Iván Marino Ospina - Álvaro Fayad - Carlos Pizarro - Antonio Navarro - Luis Otero - Gustavo Londoño - Germán Rojas Niño - Otti Patiño - Marco Antonio Chalita - Julia Jiménez.
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement signed in Corinto, Nicaragua on 24 August 1984.
The agreement did not include the ELN or FARC.
Ended: True
Date agreement ended: 1985-11-30
Comment of Duration: On 30th November the EPL declared that the cease-fire and truce to which it had agreed in 1984 with the Betancur government officially broken. An EPL communique said that "the fascists have broken the truce and killed our representatives to the so-called peace, dialogue and verification commission".
Full-text peace agreement
1985
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC, M-19
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1321 |
| Best | 1321 |
| Low | 1296 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1986
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC, M-19
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 320 |
| Best | 320 |
| Low | 295 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1987
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, EPL, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 225 |
| Best | 225 |
| Low | 175 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1988
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, EPL, FARC, M-19
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 350 |
| Best | 350 |
| Low | 300 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1989
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, EPL, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 944 |
| Best | 238 |
| Low | 237 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1990
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, EPL, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 568 |
| Best | 501 |
| Low | 501 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Political Agreement between the National Government, the Political Parties, M-19 and the Catholic Church as Moral and Spiritual Guardian of the Process
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1990-03-09
Comment of peace agreement: Peace process agreement
This agreement deals with socio-economic, political and judicial reforms.
The agreement includes DDR provisions, specifying that combatants will lay down arms, armed fronts will be demobilized and reincorporated into institutional life, and weapons will be decommissioned.
With regard to the incompatibility, the agreement advances dialogue toward implementing political solutions and "opens the road to reconciliation" between the parties. This includes the political transformation of the M-19 and electoral reform measures such as the extension of parliamentary representation for minorities.
The agreement also includes amnesty provisions and a constitutional reform to combat drug-trafficking. It further creates a number of commissions to address different issues and implement provisions.
Signatories: Government of Colombia: Virgilio Barco, Señor Presidente de la República
JULIO CÉSAR TURBAY AYALA, Señor Expresidente de la República y,
Director Nacional del Partido Liberal Colombiano
ANTONIO NAVARRO WOLF, Comandante del M-19 CARLOS PIZARRO LEÓN GÓMEZ Comandante General del M-19
RAFAEL PARDO RUEDA, Consejero Presidencial Monseñor ALVARO FANDIÑO, En representación de la Iglesia Católica como Tutora Moral y Espiritual del Proceso Doctor LUIS AYALA, En representación de la Internacional Socialista como testigo
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement signed in Bogota, Colombia on 9 March 1990.
The agreement did not include the ELN, FARC, or EPL.
Third parties: Catholic Church as moral and spiritual advisor; Socialist International (SI)
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: The Catholic Church provided moral and spiritual guidance during the process and Socialist International witnessed the signing of the agreement
Comment of Duration: More than 20 M-19 members were elected to Bogota city council positions in elections on 11 March 1990. The party also won the mayorships of two towns. On 26 April 1990 the leader of M-19, Carlos Pizarro Leongomez, was assassinated after running for President. In the elections Antonio Navarro Wolff, M-19's new presidential candidate, received 12.8 percent of the vote. In August he was named Minister of Public Health in the new government.
Full-text peace agreement
Name of peace agreement: Acuerdo Gobierno Nacional - Ejécito Popular de Liberacion, Pueblo Nuevo y Juan José
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1990-08-26
Comment of peace agreement: Partial peace agreement
This agreement between the Government of Colombia and EPL regulated the conflict by allocating EPL forces to nine camps and stipulating their consolidation within two months to seven camps. The government was to service the camps.
With regard to the incompatibility, the agreement aimed to create conditions that would facilitate EPL's participation in the National Constitutional Assembly which would meet the following year to reform the constitution. The ultimate aim of the agreement was to reach a political solution to the conflict and to allow EPL to join the political process and region civil life.
The agreement also provided for the creation of four bilateral commissions, to have join Government and EPL composition, to address political aspects, regional processes and development plans, factors of violence, and a permanent commission.
Signatories: Por el Gobierno Nacional
JESÚS ANTONIO BEJARANO Consejero Presidencial REYNALDO GARY
Consejería CARLOS EDUARDO JARA MILLO Asesor Consejería TOMAS CONCHA S. Sec. Integración Popular
Por el Ejército Popular de Ltberación
BERNARDO GUTIÉRREZ Mando Central MARCOS JARA Comandante Estado Mayor Central ANÍBAL PALACIO Partido Comunista de Colombia (M-L)
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement signed on 26 August 1990 after meetings in Pueblo Nuevo and Juan Jose.
The agreement did not include other opposition groups active in Colombia, including ELN, FARC, or M-19.
Comment of Duration: The agreement was followed by negotiations.
Full-text peace agreement
Name of peace agreement: Acuerdo entre el PCC M-L, EPL, Quintín Lame y PRT y Partidos Políticos Signatarios del Acuerdo Para la Constituyente
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1990-09-24
Comment of peace agreement: Peace Process Agreement
This agreement reaffirms previous agreements and continues the process of facilitating political solutions to the conflict. The parties express their encouragement for other groups to strive for involvement in the constitutional assembly, and propose new topics as possible opportunities to expand the agreement.
The MAQL state that they will not participate in the dialogue process without special participation provisions for the indigenous movement in the constitution.
Signatories: Por el Movimiento de Salvacion Nacional: RODRIGO MARIN BERNAL. Por el Partido Social Conservador: DIEGO PARDO KOPPEL. Por la Alianza Democrática M-19: DIEGO MONTÑA CUELLAR, CAMILO GONZALEZ, JAMIE FAJARDO, OTTO ÑAÑEZ.
Por el Mando Central del EPL, BERNARDO GUTiERREZ, OCTAVIO HERNANDEZ, CARLOS ALBERTO RESTREPO Y JAIRO MORALES. Por la direccion nacional del PRT: SERGIO SIERRA Y VÍCTOR CRUZ. Por el Estado Mayor del Quintín Lame: LEONARDO ULCUÉ, MAURICIO PAEZ.
Por el Partido Comunista Marxista-Leninista: JORGE OCAMPO Y RAÚL TEJADA
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement signed in Labores on 24 September 1990.
The agreement did not include other opposition groups active in Colombia, including ELN, FARC, or M-19.
Full-text peace agreement
Name of peace agreement: Acuerdo Gobierno Nacional-EPL y PCC – ML, Labores, Belmira, Antioquia
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1990-09-28
Comment of peace agreement: Peace Process Agreement
This agreement reaffirms and specifies modalities for implementation of the 26 August 1990 agreement. The agreement states that EPL forces have been concentrated in 10 camps and that the government is responsible for regulation of these camps.
With regard to the incompatibility, the agreement states that the parties will work toward facilitating the EPL's involvement in the National Constitutional Assembly.
The agreement identifies individuals to serve on three of the four commissions outlined in the 26 August agreement: political aspects, regional processes and development plans, and factors of violence and human rights. The government is tasked with facilitating meetings regarding the expansion of the agreement and furtherance of the peace process, including for participation of other social and political sectors. A commission is formed to effect major changes in the negotiating conditions to energize the process.
Signatories: Por el Gobierno Nacional.
JESÚS ANTONIO BEJARANO
Consejero Presidencial
CARLOS EDUARDO JARAMILLO
Asesor Consejería
REYNALDOGARY
Asesor Consejería
Por el EPL. BERNARDO GUTIÉRREZ Mando Central JAIRO MORALES Mando Central
Por el PCC (M-L)
ANÍBAL PALACIO
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement signed in Labores on 28 September 1990.
The agreement did not include other opposition groups active in Colombia, including ELN, FARC, or M-19.
Full-text peace agreement
1991
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 760 |
| Best | 731 |
| Low | 731 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Declaración del Gobierno Nacional y el PCC (ML) y el EPL, Juan José, Córdoba
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1991-01-29
Comment of peace agreement: Partial peace agreement
At the IV Conference of Combatants, the parties agreed to surrender arms on 1 March 1991 and to do so in camps set up for EPL combatants. A bilateral commission was appointed to prepare a draft of the definitive agreement.
Regarding the incompatibility, individuals are appointed to represent EPL in the National Constitutional Assembly, first as spokespeople and subsequently as full representatives after the surrender of arms.
Signatories: For the EPL and the PCC - ML:
JAIME FAJARDO LANDAETA
DA RÍO ANTONIO MEJÍA
ANÍBAL PALACIO
FERNANDO PINEDA
BERNARDO GUTIÉRREZ
MARCOS JARA
DOMINGO ROJAS
JYMY SALCEDO
JAIME VELASQUEZ
CAMILOSANTACRUZ
SALOMÓN BORGES
For the Presidential Council
JESÚS A. BEJARANO A.
CARLOS EDUARDO JARA MILLO
ALVARO HERNANDEZ
TOMAS CONCHA SANZ
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement signed in Juan Jose on 29 January 1991.
The agreement did not include other opposition groups active in Colombia, including ELN, FARC, or M-19.
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: Agreement is not signed by, but is stated in the text to be held in the presence of Manuel Medina, representative of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (Partido Socialista Obrero Español, PSOE) and Socialist International in his capacity as international monitor, Monsignor Flavio Calle, Bishop of Montelíbano and Monsignor Guillermo Vega of the Colombian Episcopal Conference, as representatives of the church and as moral tutors of the peace process, Monsignor Emilio Stehle special guest of the church, Senator Rodrigo Marín Bernal in representation of the National Salvation Movement and Member of Parliament Andrés López.
Full-text peace agreement
Name of peace agreement: Acuerdo Final Gobierno Nacional-Ejército Popular De Liberación
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1991-02-15
Comment of peace agreement: Full peace agreement
An agreement was signed on 15 February 1991, between the government of Colombia and the EPL guerilla.
The agreement stipulated the complete disarmament of the EPL rebels, and their integration into civilian life. The agreement included an extensive security plan, with the aim of securing the health and lives of the former EPL combatants and leaders.
The main provision of the agreement was the transformation of EPL into a legal political party, and the granting of two seats in the assembly to be used by the group.
The agreement created a number of commission and committees, such as a commission to spread the truth about the conflict both nationally and internationally, a commission for the investigation of violent crimes committed during the conflict and a commission for the promulgation of the contents of the peace agreement.
A decree pardoning EPL guerrillas who wished to be reintegrated into civilian life was approved by the government on 22 January; it also covered the Revolutionary Workers Party (PRT), which was to lay down its arms on 26 January.
Signatories: For the government: Humberto de la Calle Lombana Jesus A. Bejarano Avila Carlos Eduardo Jaramillo C. Alvaro Hernandez V. Tomas Concha Sanz Gabriel Restrepo Forero Gonzalo de Francisco Zambrano
For the EPL: Jaime Fajardo Anibal Palacio Luis Fernando Pineda Bernardo Gutierrez Julio Morales Marcos Jara
Witnesses Guillermo Vega Manuel Medina
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement
The agreement was signed in Bogota
Comment of Duration: On 4 March 1991 the Hope, Peace and Liberty (Esperanza, Paz y Libertad - EPL) political party was formed.
Full-text peace agreement
Name of peace agreement: Caracas Agenda
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1991-06-06
Comment of peace agreement: Peace process agreement
This agreement lays out issues to be discussed by parties in future peace negotiations. It prioritizes the need to reach a ceasefire. Other issues highlighted for discussion include measures against impunity, to protect human rights, and political participation for armed groups.
Signatories: On behalf of the government:
Jesús Antonio Bejarano A. Presidential Adviser Andrés González D. Vice-Minister for the Interior Carlos Eduardo Jaramillo C. Adviser to the Peace Council Humberto Vergara P. Adviser to the Peace Council Tomás Concha S. Adviser to the Peace Council Reynaldo Gary P. Adviser to the Commission
On behalf of the Simón Bolívar Guerrilla Coordination Body
Alfonso Cano (FARC), Iván Márquez (FARC), Pablo Catatumbo (FARC), Humberto Zulanga (FARC), Daniel Aldana (FARC), Miguel Suárez (FARC), Andrés París (FARC), Francisco Galán (ELN), Lucía González (ELN), Diego Ruiz (EPL), Asdrúbal Jiménez (EPL)
Comment of signatories: Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in Caracas Venezuela on 6 June 1991.
Third parties: Observers present:
Miguel Motta C., Rafael Serrano P., María Cristina Ocampo, Henry Millán, William Ramírez, Oscar Reyes, Jesús Carvajal, Alvaro Vásquez, Hernán Motta, Nelson Berrío
Ended: True
Date agreement ended: 1992-03-31
Comment of Duration: Four rounds of talks were held between the parties from June to November 1991 but clashes and attacks on Colombian infrastructure continued. In March 1992 a new roand of talks were held in Mexico but it broke down due to EPL's kidnapping of the former Liberal minister Argelino Durán Quintero and the disappearance and death of Daniel García, diplomatic emissary for the FARC. On 31 March 1992 President Cesar Gaviria and his peace process advisers announced that as long as the rebels continued their dynamite attacks, kidnappings and violence, there would be no more talks with FARC or ELN
On 28 May, President César Gaviria Trujillo stated that he had virtually ruled out any possibility of reaching an agreement with the guerrillas, and that the actions of the armed forces were aimed at "wiping them out".
Full-text peace agreement
1992
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1503 |
| Best | 1479 |
| Low | 1479 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1993
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 196 |
| Best | 186 |
| Low | 186 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1994
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1343 |
| Best | 1132 |
| Low | 1132 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1995
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 828 |
| Best | 823 |
| Low | 823 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1996
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1244 |
| Best | 1207 |
| Low | 1200 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1997
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 690 |
| Best | 574 |
| Low | 574 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1998
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1403 |
| Best | 958 |
| Low | 957 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Declaration of Viana
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1998-02-09
Comment of peace agreement: Peace process agreement
This preliminary peace process agreement establishes a framework for future negotiations and a forum for national dialogue between the ELN and the National Government.
Regarding the incompatibility, the agreement aimed to establish a "broad process of dialogue and consensus involving all sectors of society" in order to build peace based on democracy and social justice.
Signatories: Government: José Noé Ríos, Daniel García Peña
Comando Central y la dirección del ELN: Milton Hernández, responsable Frente Internacional,
Juan Vásquez, miembro Frente Internacional
CCN: Augusto Ramírez Ocampo y Ana Mercedes Gómez
Spanish government:
Fernando M. Villalonga, Secretary of State for International Cooperation
Eduardo Gutierraz Saenz de Buruaga, Director General of Foriegn Policy for Ibero-America
Comment of signatories: Dyadic Peace Agreement signed in Madrid, Spain on 9 February 1998.
Representatives of the other major armed groups, M-19, EPL, and FARC, were not part of the process.
The agreement was only a preliminary agreement that had to be ratified by by the ELN's central command and later by President Ernesto Samper.
Third parties: Spain
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: Spain facilitated the peace process and hosted the dialogue. The National Reconciliation Commission (CCN) also participated.
Ended: True
Date agreement ended: 1998-03-31
Comment of Duration: This preliminary agreement was agreed to be confidential by the parties but it leaked to the press. On 31 March ELN issued a statement to suspend the peace process due to the handling of the peace agreement. The agreement was never ratified by the parties since Manuel Pérez, the leader of ELN, died unexpectedly on 14 February 1998.
Full-text peace agreement
1999
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 2540 |
| Best | 2166 |
| Low | 2043 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Common Agenda for the Path to a New Colombia
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1999-05-06
Comment of peace agreement: Peace process agreement
The agreement set the agenda for talks. The agenda included the questions of Protection of Human Rights as a responsibility of the State, An Integrated Agrarian Policy, Exploitation and Conservation of Natural Resources, Economic and Social Structure, Justice reform, fighting corruption and drug trafficking, Political reform to broaden democracy, State reform, Agreements about International Humanitarian Law, Armed forces, International relations, Formalizing the agreements.
Signatories: For the Government:Víctor G. Ricardo, FAbio Valencia Cossio, Maria Emma Majía Vélez, Nicanor Restrepo Santamaría, Rudolfo Espinosa Meola; for the FARC-EP: Raúl Reyes, Joaquín Gómez and Fabián Ramírez
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement
Ended: True
Date agreement ended: 2002-02-21
Comment of Duration: The Government ended the peace talks with FARC on 21 February (Resolution No 31 2002) after FARC hijacked a commercial plane with senator Eduardo Gechem aboard. Gechem was taken by FARC to an undiscovered location. Pastrana, thus, broke off three years of peace talks with FARC.
Full-text peace agreement
2000
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, EPL–Los Pelusos, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 2276 |
| Best | 1902 |
| Low | 1888 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Metodología y Temática para las Discusiones, Comunicado No. 8, Mesa Nacional de Diálogos y Negociación
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 2000-01-28
Comment of peace agreement: Peace process agreement
This agreement of the National Roundtable for Dialogue and Negotiation established the methodology and themes to be discussed at future negotiation rounds. The set agenda was to be based on three groups of issues: (1) the social and economic structure, (2) human rights, international humanitarian law and international relations, and (3) democracy and the political structure of the state. The initial items to be discussed were: economic and social structure, agrarian policies, and natural resource conservation and exploitation. The National Roundtable for Dialogue and Negotiation decided to meet within six months to discuss these items.
With regard to the incompatibility, the parties agreed that their agenda and methods must always reflect the interests of all Colombians and should pursue the goal of reaching a political settlement to end the Colombian conflict. An integrated agrarian policy is taken up as one of the initial items to be discussed. This is a central issue to the conflict and comes to comprise one of the main parts of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in 2016.
Signatories: For the National Government:
VÍCTOR G. RICARDO (High Commission for Peace)
CAMILO GÓMEZ ALZATE
FABI0 VALENCIA COSSI0
PEDRO GÓMEZ BARRERO
JUAN GABRIEL URIBE
JOSÉ GONZALO FORERO DELGADILLO
For the FARC-EP:
Spokespersons:
RAÚL REYES
JOAQUÍN GOMEZ
FABIÁN RAMÍREZ
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement signed in Villa Nueva, Colombia on 28 January 2000.
The agreement did not include other opposition groups active in Colombia, including ELN, EPL, or M-19.
Ended: True
Date agreement ended: 2002-02-21
Comment of Duration: The Government ended the peace talks with FARC on 21 February (Resolution No 31 2002) after FARC hijacked a commercial plane with senator Eduardo Gechem aboard. Gechem was taken by FARC to an undiscovered location. Pastrana, thus, broke off three years of peace talks with FARC.
Full-text peace agreement
2001
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 2014 |
| Best | 1895 |
| Low | 1890 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Los Pozos Agreement
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 2001-02-09
Comment of peace agreement: Peace process agreement
This agreement creates commissions, outlines and prioritizes issues, and establishes a schedule and agenda for future negotiations between the Government and the FARC.
Regarding the incompatibility, this agreement initiated the process for greater political engagement for the FARC.
Signatories: Government: Andres Pastrana Arango, President
FARC: Manuel Marulanda Velez
Comment of signatories: Dyadic Peace Agreement signed in Los Pozos, Panama on 9 February 2001.
Representatives of the other major armed groups, M-19, EPL, and ELN, were not part of the process.
Ended: True
Date agreement ended: 2002-02-21
Comment of Duration: The Government ended the peace talks with FARC on 21 February (Resolution No 31 2002) after FARC hijacked a commercial plane with senator Eduardo Gechem aboard. Gechem was taken by FARC to an undiscovered location. Pastrana, thus, broke off three years of peace talks with FARC.
Full-text peace agreement
Name of peace agreement: San Francisco de la Sombra Accord
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 2001-10-05
Comment of peace agreement: Peace process agreement
This agreement identifies issues for discussion and sets an agenda for future negotiations between the Government and the FARC. It set up a demilitarized zone for negotiations and tasked the National Peace Council to oversee the process.
Signatories: For the National Government: High Commissioner for Peace Camilio Gómez Alzate and Special Advisor Juan Gabriel Uribe.
For the FARC-EP: Commander in Chief Manuel Marulanda Vélez and the following representatives: Raúl Reyes, Joaquin Gómez, Simón Trinidad and Andrés París.
Comment of signatories: Dyadic Peace Agreement signed in San Vincente de Caguan, Colombia on 5 October 2001.
Representatives of the other major armed groups, M-19, EPL, and ELN, were not part of the process.
Ended: True
Date agreement ended: 2002-02-21
Comment of Duration: The Government ended the peace talks with FARC on 21 February (Resolution No 31 2002) after FARC hijacked a commercial plane with senator Eduardo Gechem aboard. Gechem was taken by FARC to an undiscovered location. Pastrana, thus, broke off three years of peace talks with FARC.
Full-text peace agreement
2002
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, EPL–Los Pelusos, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 3946 |
| Best | 3407 |
| Low | 3350 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Agreement for a Timetable for the Future of the Peace Process
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 2002-01-20
Comment of peace agreement: Peace process agreement
This peace process agreement, also called the 20 January Agreement, was signed in the demilitarized zone. This agreement defines a detailed timetable for negotiations and further implementation of the outcome for negotiations. It calls for immediate focus on establishing a ceasefire and recognizes the Agreement of Los Pozos, 9 February 2001, and the Agreement of San Francisco de la Sombra, 5 October 2001.
FARC pledged not to carry out any more mass kidnappings and to sign for implementation of ceasefire by 7 April 2002. The government agreed to include the issue of the paramilitary organizations. FARC did not sign a truce or a ceasefire, but it confirmed its intentions to seek ways to diminish the conflict.
Signatories: For the Colombian Government: High Peace Commissioner Camilio Gomez, Gabriel Uribe, Ricardo Correra and Reinaldo Botero.
FARC: Raoul Reyes, Joaquin Gomez , Andrés París and Simón Trinidad
Comment of signatories: Dyadic Peace Agreement signed in Los Pozos, Panama on 20 January 2002.
Representatives of the other major armed groups, M-19, EPL, and ELN, were not part of the process.
Third parties: International Facilitating Commission, UN, the Catholic Church
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: Kofi Anan and representation from the Catholic Church were present in the signing of the agreement. The Colombian Government and FARC agreed that that the international community should accompany the peace process as permanent observers.
Ended: True
Date agreement ended: 2002-02-21
Comment of Duration: The Government ended the peace talks with FARC on 21 February (Resolution No 31 2002) after FARC hijacked a commercial plane with senator Eduardo Gechem aboard. Gechem was taken by FARC to an undiscovered location. Pastrana, thus, broke off three years of peace talks with FARC.
Full-text peace agreement
2003
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 2146 |
| Best | 2118 |
| Low | 2091 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2004
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, EPL–Los Pelusos, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1420 |
| Best | 1374 |
| Low | 1341 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2005
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1645 |
| Best | 1593 |
| Low | 1565 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2006
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 521 |
| Best | 509 |
| Low | 509 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2007
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 346 |
| Best | 339 |
| Low | 339 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2008
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 291 |
| Best | 282 |
| Low | 273 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2009
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 444 |
| Best | 400 |
| Low | 399 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2010
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 425 |
| Best | 419 |
| Low | 419 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2011
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 208 |
| Best | 202 |
| Low | 202 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2012
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 310 |
| Best | 211 |
| Low | 211 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: General Agreement for the Termination of the Conflict and the Construction of a Stable and Lasting Peace
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 2012-08-26
Comment of peace agreement: Peace process agreement
The peace process agreement was about initiating talks about the points on the stipulated agenda with the aim to reach a Final Agreement for the termination of the conflict. Areas of priority set for talks include regional development, political participation, a cessation of hostilities and DDR process, rights for victims, and implementation and verification through commissions and related mechanisms.
With regard to the incompatibility, this agreement strives to advance a peaceful solution with broadened democracy and participation of all Colombians, including armed groups.
Signatories: Plenipotentiaries from the Colombian government: Sergio Jaramillo and Frank Pearl.
Plenipotentiaries from the FARC: Mauricio Jaramillo, Ricardo Téllez, Andrés París, Marco León Calarcá, Hermes Aguilar and Sandra Ramírez.
Vitnesses from the Cuban Government: Carlos Fernandéz de Cossío and Abel Garcia.
Witnesses from the Norweigan Government: Dag Halvor Nylander and Vegar S. Brynildsen.
Witnesses from the Colombian Government: Enrique Santos C., Àlvaro Alejandro Eder, Jaime F. Avendaño, Lucía Jaramillo Ayberbe and Elena Ambrosi.
Comment of signatories: Dyadic Peace Agreement signed in Havana Cuba on 26 August 2012.
Representatives of the other major armed groups, M-19, EPL, and ELN, were not part of the process.
Third parties: Cuba, Norway, Colombia
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: Cuba and Norway were guarantors for the agreement and peace process. Venezuela, though not a signatory, facilitated logistics for the Exploratory Meeting and resulting agreement.
Full-text peace agreement
2013
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 183 |
| Best | 140 |
| Low | 140 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Joint Communique regarding Comprehensive Rural Reform
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 2013-05-26
Comment of peace agreement: Partial Peace Agreement
This Land reform agreement was reached after six months of peace talks between the FARC and Government of Colombia in Havana. Exact and official text from the negotiation was not made available, but the a joint communique between the parties was published and summarised agreements made on the topic of land and rural development.
Regarding the incompatibility, the question of land reform was central to the conflict and comes to comprise one of the main parts of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in 2016.
The agreement aimed to transform rural and agrarian reality. The communique states that parties reached agreements on various aspects of infrastructure, social and territorial development, economic stimulus, and food and nutrition policies. The Fund of Lands for Peace was created to provide access to land for more rural inhabitants, and campesinos landholdings were to be formalized.
Signatories: Government of Colombia, FARC
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement signed in Havana, Cuba on 26 May 2013.
The agreement did not include other opposition groups active in Colombia, including ELN and EPL
Third parties: Office of the United Nations in Colombia, the Center of Thought for Peace of the National University, Cuba, Norway, Chile, and Venezuela.
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: No third parties are said to have signed the agreement, but it acknowledges the contribution of the Office of the United Nations in Colombia, the Center of Thought for Peace of the National University, Cuba, Norway, Chile, and Venezuela.
Full-text peace agreement
Name of peace agreement: Political participation: opening up democracy to build peace
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 2013-11-06
Comment of peace agreement: Partial peace agreement
Resulting from the 15th round of talks between the Government and FARC-EP, this partial agreement addresses the second point of the peace agendas: political participation. The agreement expands and prioritizes political and citizen participation at the national, regional, and local levels. It promotes inclusion, participation, and transparency in electoral and political processes. The agreement outlines steps to these ends, including reform and modernization of the electoral system and calls for steps taken to create conditions necessary for the armed groups to transform into political parties. Provisions include measures to increase equal distribution of political parties and movements, increased electoral participation, transparency in elections, and promotion of political culture that includes integration of, among others, peasants, indigenous communities, people of African descent, LGTBI peoples, and women.
With regard to the incompatibility, the agreement broadly aims to ""strengthen pluralism and the representation of the different visions and interests of society"" with guarantees for political participation and inclusion in order to strengthen the democratic system and build peace.
The agreement also includes provisions for security guarantees especially for political opposition, protections for human rights workers and organizations, facilitation of citizen participation including through the promotion of human rights, extension of rights and protections from the national to local levels, guarantees for reconciliation, emphasis on ending corruption, and education and communication programs related to these efforts. Special attention is given to recognize and promote the participation of women in the political process and to reject discrimination against women. The agreement also creates bodies for implementation of different provisions, including "X Special Transitional Constituencies for Peace" that would elevate participation of peoples from peasants, victims, women, and peacebuilding sectors.
Signatories: Government of Colombia, FARC-EP
Comment of signatories: Dyadic Peace Agreement signed in Havana, Cuba on 6 November 2013.
Representatives of the other major armed groups, M-19, EPL, and ELN, were not part of the process.
Third parties: Cuba, Norway
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: Though not signatories on this agreement, Norway and Cuba were guarantors and facilitators of the Colombian Peace Process.
Full-text peace agreement
2014
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 141 |
| Best | 141 |
| Low | 141 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Joint Draft: Towards a new Colombian Countryside: Comprehensive Rural Reform
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 2014-06-06
Comment of peace agreement: Partial peace agreement
This agreement, introduced through Joint Communique 16 on 26 May 2013 but signed as a draft on 6 June 2014 between the Government and FARC-EP, addresses the first item on the peace agenda: comprehensive agrarian reform. The agreement focuses on regional development and alleviation of poverty and inequality, and the main issues of land access and use, development programs, infrastructure, social development, stimulus for agriculture production, and access to food and nutrition.
Regarding the incompatibility, the agreement aims at the structural transformation of the countryside in order to contribute to solve the "historical causes of the conflict" and to boost regional integration and equitable social and economic development.
The agreement provides for reforms for allocation, use, and access to land; mechanisms to address and resolve land conflicts; guarantees for local governance; provisions for road, irrigation, and electrical and connectivity infrastructure; social development including related to health, education, housing, and eradication of poverty; and protection for human rights, particularly those related to food security. Gender provisions include prioritization of female heads of household for free allocation of land, adopting a gender approach to health provisions, encouraging vocational training for women in non-traditional disciples for rural education, encouraging women in non-traditional production fields, and provisions for food security for pregnant and lactating women. The agreement also recognizes social, cultural, and economic characteristics of territories and protects respective rights in regard to land rights and development. Cultural protections include the promotion of local knowledge and systems, such as protection and access to native seeds, and developing schemes for culturally-appropriate food and nutrition.
Signatories: Government of Colombia, FARC-EP
Comment of signatories: Dyadic Peace Agreement reached in Havana, Cuba on the 26 May 2013, signed 6 June 2014.
Representatives of the other major armed groups, M-19, EPL, and ELN, were not part of the process.
Third parties: Cuba, Norway
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: Though not signatories on this agreement, Norway and Cuba were guarantors and facilitators of the Colombian Peace Process. It is noted that Chile and Venezuela were accompanying countries who received periodic updates abut the progress of the dialogue.
Full-text peace agreement
2015
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 145 |
| Best | 139 |
| Low | 139 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Joint Communiqué # 60 regarding the Agreement of the Creation of a Special Jurisdiction for Peace
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 2015-09-23
Comment of peace agreement: Partial peace agreement
This communique, the 60th to result from talks between the FARC and Government of Colombia, details the creation of a Special Jurisdiction for Peace. The statement reaffirms previously reached agreements, including "Toward a New Colombian Countryside: Comprehensive Rural Reform” and “Political Participation: Democratic Openness to Build Peace."
Regarding the incompatibility, the agreement states that the FARC will be transformed into a political movement.
This statement outlines the creation of a Comprehensive System of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition. The framework includes the creation of a Commission for the Elucidation of Truth, Coexistence and Non-Repetition and a Special Jurisdiction of Peace. The agreement includes amnesty provisions in connection with political crimes, with exceptions for crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes, including sexual violence.
Signatories: Government of the Republic of Colombia; the FARC-EP
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement signed in Havana, Cuba on 23 September 2015.
The agreement did not include other opposition groups active in Colombia, including ELN, EPL, or M-19.
Full-text peace agreement
Name of peace agreement: Agreement on the Victims of Conflict, 'Comprehensive System for Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-repitition, including the Special Jurisdiction for Peace; and Commitment on Human Rights
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 2015-12-15
Comment of peace agreement: Partial peace agreement
This agreement between the Government of Colombia and FARC-EP aimed to provide redress for victims of the conflict. The two main themes of the agreement are human rights of the victims and truth provisions. It sets out reparations for victims, guarantees of non-repetition, foundations for reconciliation, and mechanisms for justice. A gender, territorial, and differentiated approach is specified throughout.
With regard to the incompatibility, the parties agree that transitional justice efforts should strive to acknowledge the causes of and conditions that allowed the continuance of the conflict. The agreement works to solve on complicated issues justice between the parties - that of restorative justice, amnesties, and appropriate sentences for those who committed crimes against humanity. The efforts toward reconciliation aim to promote national unity and healing after the conflict.
The agreement creates and outlines mandate, structure, and function for various implementation mechanisms. First, the Comprehensive System of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-repetition is an overarching framework to combine judicial mechanisms for investigation and punishment of breaches of International Humanitarian Law, clarifying the truth, searching for missing persons, and repairing damages to individuals. Different measures under the Comprehensive System include:
Commission for the Clarification of Truth, Coexistence and Non-repetition, Special unit for the search for missing persons in the context and due to the armed conflict, Special Jurisdiction for Peace, Comprehensive reparation measures for peace-building, and Guarantees of non-repetition. The agreement provides amnesties and pardons for political and related offenses, contingent on a cessation of hostilities and accomplishment of the Final Agreement, and with exceptions to the amnesty for such indictments as for crimes against humanity. The agreement also includes human rights provisions and protections for specific groups, as well as reparation and rehabilitation measures, such as land grants and rights for return of those displaced.
Signatories: The national government, the FARC-EP
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement signed in Havana, Cuba on 15 December 2015.
The agreement did not include other opposition groups active in Colombia, including ELN, EPL, or M-19.
Third parties: United Nations, the National University, the Episcopal Conference, Cuba, Norway, Chile, and Venezuela
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: Though not signed by the third-party actors, the agreement acknowledges the United Nations and the National University for their role in organizing forums for victims' testimony, and the Episcopal Conference for further supporting the forums. Cuba, Norway, Chile, and Venezuela supported the peace negotiations.
Full-text peace agreement
2016
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 36 |
| Best | 35 |
| Low | 35 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Agreement on the Bilateral and Definitive Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities, and the Laydown of Weapons between the National Government and the FARC-EP
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 2016-06-23
Comment of peace agreement: Partial peace agreement
This agreement establishes the process for the ceasefire in the Colombian peace process. It includes provisions for decommissioning weapons and DDR processes.
Regarding the incompatibility, the agreement aims to end the conflict between the parties and facilitates the ceasefire and decommissioning part of the final peace process.
The agreement includes monitoring and verification measures and the creation of related mechanisms, as well as the process for normalization for reincorporating combatants into civilian life.
Signatories: Government of Colombia, FARC-EP
Comment of signatories: Dyadic Peace Agreement signed in Havana, Cuba on 23 June 2016.
Representatives of the other major armed groups, M-19, EPL, and ELN, were not part of the process.
Third parties: Cuba, Norway
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: Though not signatories on this agreement, Norway and Cuba were guarantors and facilitators of the Colombian Peace Process.
Full-text peace agreement
Name of peace agreement: Acuerdo final para la terminación del conflicto y la construcción de una paz estable y duradera
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 2016-11-24
Comment of peace agreement: Full peace agreement
The Final Colombian Peace Agreement resulted from meetings that took place between the Government and FARC, with support from Norway and Cuba and with Venezuela and Chile as observers, in Havana between 23 February and 26 August 2012, and from a revision of the peace agreement following a plebiscite in August 2016. The plebiscite presented a peace agreement to the people, which they voted down. In response, the Government and FARC, together with representatives of civil society and other interested parties, made changes to produce a new, final agreement. The final agreement resolved all outstanding issues. It includes a gender approach and wide-reaching considerations for fulfillment of human rights, and includes provisions for comprehensive rural reform, political participation, a definitive ceasefire between the two groups, DDR processes, security guarantees, a solution to the illicit drugs problems, reparations for victims, and implementation and verification mechanisms. It referenced the previous agreements signed 26 August 2012 and 24 August 2016.
Regarding the incompatibility, the agreement granted the FARC political status, and provided for greater, more balanced political and civil participation in government structures and processes. Provisions are made throughout the agreement for balanced representation, local power, transparent processes, and active civilian participation in governing. The agreement also addressed underlying issues of the conflict, including through the rural reform and solution to the illicit drugs provisions.
The first chapter of the agreement addresses comprehensive rural reform. This chapter provides for reform of a Land Fund to promote equitable access to land; programs for transforming territorial planning into more participatory processes; and national plans for reform that prioritizes infrastructure and land improvement, irrigation, electricity connectivity, and social development (health, education, housing, and poverty eradication). The chapter establishes mechanisms for gender equality, emphasizes reaching and enforcing solutions through community-based systems, guaranteeing socio-environmental sustainability and well-being.
The second chapter addresses political participation. It provides for the transformation of the FARC into a political party and includes provisions on rights and security for political opposition. It also extends democratic mechanisms for citizen participation, peaceful protest, reconciliation, and provides for measures to promote political pluralism, and reforms for transparency and equal access for participation in electoral processes. This chapter includes provisions for a gender-based approach.
Chapter three includes provisions to end the conflict. It includes a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, as well as DDR processes, especially for reincorporation of former combatants into civilian life. Security, financial, access to media, and other guarantees are provided for, especially pertaining to newly created political parties and for civil society organizations for women, victims, and others. Relevant mechanisms, commissions, and monitoring bodies are established to realize each provision. Attention is paid to remedying corruption and containing criminal organizations. Reconciliation is advanced through the creation of the National Council for Reconciliation and Coexistence.
Chapter four, Solution to the Illicit Drugs Problem, creates the National Comprehensive Programme for the Substitution of Crops Used for Illicit Purposes (NCPS) and provides for holistic transformation of the nation around the topic of illicit drugs, including enhanced security conditions and strengthened economic, social, and environmental well-being of communities affected by crops used for illicit drugs. Local-level and community-based plans and programs are specified for substitution of illicit crops. Provisions are also made for public health and drug use prevention programs, and for addressing the production and selling of narcotics.
The fifth chapter is about victims of the conflict. It primarily outlines victims' rights and provides for truth and reconciliation processes, including the creation of the Comprehensive System for Truth, Justice, Reparations and Non-Recurrence. The Comprehensive System has separate mechanisms dealing with truth, justice, reparations for victims, and guarantees for non-recurrence.
Chapter six includes principles and mechanisms for implementation, verification, and public endorsement of the Agreement. It includes the creation of the Commission for Monitoring, Promoting and Verifying the Implementation of the Final Agreement and provides for participatory and transparent processes, incorporation of ethnic perspectives, international verification, inclusion of an equity- and gender-based approach, and communication tools to educate the public.
The Final Agreement also includes Protocols and Annexes with reference to different components of the Agreement.
Signatories: Humberto de la Calle, Head of the Government's Negotiating Team; Ivan Marquez, Head of the FARC-EP's Negotiating Team; Delegate of the Government of Cuba; Delegate of the Kingdom of Norway
On behalf of the National Government: Humberto de la Calle, Head of the Government's Negotiating Team; and Representative Members: Sergio Jaramillo, Jorge Enrique Mora, Oscar Naranjo, Maria Angela Holguin, Frank Pearl, Gonzalo Restrepo, Roy Barreras
On behalf of the FARC-EP: Ivan Marquez, Head of the FARC-EP's Negotiating Team; and Representative Members: Pablo Catatumbo, Pastor Alape, Joaquin Gomez, Mauricio Jaramillo, Bertulfo Alvarez, Carlos Autonio Losada, Ricardo Tellez
Juan Manuel Santos Calderon, President of the Republic of Colombia
Timoleon Jimenez, Commander-in-Chief of the FARC-EP.
Comment of signatories: Dyadic Peace Agreement signed in Havana, Cuba on 24 November 2016.
Representatives of the other major armed groups, M-19, EPL, and ELN, were not part of the process.
Third parties: Chile, Cuba, Norway, Venezuela
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: Norway and Cuba hosted meetings as part of the peace process and facilitated the dialogue. Chile and Venezuela acted as observer countries.
Full-text peace agreement
2017
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 68 |
| Best | 65 |
| Low | 58 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2018
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC-EMC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 220 |
| Best | 219 |
| Low | 218 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2019
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC-EMC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 174 |
| Best | 169 |
| Low | 169 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2020
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - FARC-EMC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 55 |
| Best | 54 |
| Low | 54 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2021
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC-EMC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 153 |
| Best | 144 |
| Low | 143 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2022
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC-EMC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 135 |
| Best | 133 |
| Low | 133 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2023
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC-EMC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 93 |
| Best | 92 |
| Low | 91 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2024
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, FARC - Segunda Marquetalia , FARC-EMC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 245 |
| Best | 241 |
| Low | 235 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2025
Primary Parties: Government of Colombia - ELN, EMBF, FARC-EMC
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 354 |
| Best | 318 |
| Low | 298 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Conflict Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1975 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In June 1975 the government imposed a stage of siege following increased activity by guerrillas. The FARC, but mainly ELN, were hit hard by the government offensive.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: There have been no references made to negotiations in this year
Third party involvement: NO
Comment on Third Party Involvement: There have been no third parties present during the researched year
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1976 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: No record of negotiations in researched year
Third party involvement: NO
Comment on Third Party Involvement: No record of third party involvement in researched year
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1977 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: No record of negotiations in researched year
Third party involvement: NO
Comment on Third Party Involvement: No record of third party involvement in researched year
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1978 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 1978 FARC and M-19 were launching a series of attacks against the government. The M-19 “declared war” against the government in Aug and the government’s response resulted in hundreds of killed guerrillas in late 1978 and early 1979.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: No record of negotiations in researched year
Third party involvement: NO
Comment on Third Party Involvement: No record of third party involvement in researched year
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1979 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: No record of negotiations in researched year
Third party involvement: NO
Comment on Third Party Involvement: No record of third party involvement in researched year
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1980 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: No record of negotiations in researched year
Third party involvement: NO
Comment on Third Party Involvement: No record of third party involvement in researched year
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1981 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: There were no negotiations in 1981 but the government set up a peace commission with the intention of finding a solution to the conflict. Amongst the recommendations that were given by the commission were the amnesties of 1982. Excluded from the amnesty however were the crimes of murder and kidnapping.
Third party involvement: NO
Comment on Third Party Involvement: No record of third party involvement in researched year
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1982 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: There were no negotiations in 1981 but the government set up a peace commission with the intention of finding a solution to the conflict. Amongst the recommendations that were given by the commission were the amnesties of 1982. Excluded from the amnesty however were the crimes of murder and kidnapping.
Third party involvement: NO
Comment on Third Party Involvement: No record of third party involvement in researched year
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1983 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: After M-19 took the initiative for dialogue with the government in 1982 FARC and EPL were also added to groups attempting to find a political solution to the violent conflict. Negotiations started in January 1983 with each group separately. In October FARC sent a peace plan to the government which suggested a ceasefire to start in January 1984. The plan would give the organisation enough time to dissarm and form a political movement for the upcoming elections.
Earlier in November guerrilla representatives had met with government representatives in Spain. The outcome was not disclosed but in total 17 meetings were held in the year between the peace commission and guerrillas.
Third party involvement: NO
Comment on Third Party Involvement: No record of third party involvement in researched year
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1984 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: While early 1984 saw violent action from the guerrillas there was a ceasefire agreement reached between the government and FARC in March. This was followed by similar agreements with M-19 and EPL in the summer. The truce was however violated by new joint actions by M-19 and FARC.
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: The negotiations with the government resulted in a ceasefire agreement that would also entitle the group to form a political party and participate in the elections. There were however no commitments of the guerrilla groups to disarm.
Third party involvement: NO
Comment on Third Party Involvement: No record of third party involvement in researched year
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
Comment on Termination: There was a ceasefire agreeent between the government and three of the four main guerrilla groups but it did however not last.
1985 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: One of the most spectacular events in the Colombian conflict, at least in the 1980s, occurred on 7 Nov in Bogota. 41 guerrillas from the M-19 had entered the Palace of Justice and put it under siege for 27 hours. The siege ended when the army stormed the Palace. In the following battle the Palace was set on fire and all guerrillas and hostages, amongst them the President of the Supreme Court and Supreme Court judges were killed. In all some 100 people were killed in the event.
The event happened after the M-19 had formally ended the truce. FARC was the only group still committed to exploring the political path in 1985. By the end of the year coordination between the guerrillas in EPL, M-19, and ELN started to be organised
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: No record of negotiations in researched year
Third party involvement: NO
Comment on Third Party Involvement: No record of third party involvement in researched year
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1986 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: There were still extreme levels of violence in Colombia in 1986. According to some estimates as many as 11 000 people may have died as a result of violence in the year. The guerrilla related violence however decreased from 1985. Part of this may have been due to the M-19 having suffered so hard the year before.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: No record of negotiations in researched year
Third party involvement: NO
Comment on Third Party Involvement: No record of third party involvement in researched year
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1987 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: No record of negotiations in researched year
Third party involvement: NO
Comment on Third Party Involvement: No record of third party involvement in researched year
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1988 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 1988 the actions of paramilitary groups started to grow. So called ”death squads” were assumed to be behind the killing of many of the some 600 UP members that had been killed over the 3 year period since the UP became FARCs political arm. For the guerrilla groups in general the coordination in the CGSB was not total. ELN had been continuously performing attacks on the main oil pipeline but in September all three major guerrillas called for ceasefires with the government in order to give the peace efforts a chance.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: No record of negotiations in researched year
Third party involvement: NO
Comment on Third Party Involvement: No record of third party involvement in researched year
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1989 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 1989 three guerrilla groups were active: FARC, ELN and EPL.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: FARC declared a unilateral ceasefire on 1 March after the government created a peace vigilance team to bring the parties closer to a negotiating table. The truce was respected for several months. Preparatory negotiations took place since 21 October, but there were not any formal negotiations.
Although the ELN was part of the coalition CNGSB, it did not show intentions to join the ceasefire proposal of FARC (March) and EPL (May). In fact, the ELN conditioned eventual negotiations to a shift on oil exploitation policies.
The EPL continued military operations until early May when it decided to join FARCs ceasefire proposal. The truce was respected for several months. The truce and attempts to negotiate were withdrawn on December when clashes with the government took place.
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1990 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: The EPL joined negotiations efforts made by the government. An agreement was reached on 25 May two days before elections. However, an important faction of the EPL, supported by Francisco Caraballo (Secretary General of the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party), stated that it would not join the agreement and that it would continue fighting the government. The demobilized faction participated later on as a political party for the elections for the Constitutional Assembly under the name of EPL Esperanza, Paz y Libertad -Hope, Peace and Liberty.
The groups conforming the Simón Bolívar Guerrilla Coordination Body (CGSB) alliance (FARC, ELN, EPL, M-19, Workers Revolutionary Party - PRT and the Quintin Lame) accepted a governmental proposition to initiate peace talks on 9 October 1990. The attempt failed after guerrilla activity was reported later that year.
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1991 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: In 1991 Quintín Lame, EPL and Workers Revolutionary Party (PRT) reached separate agreements (although very similar) with the government. They all included demobilization and further space for political participation. Negotiations between the government and the CNGSB (FARC & ELN) took place in Caracas, most of the first round of negotiations dealt with formal aspects, although some core issues related to the incompatibility were addressed. After the proclamation of the new Constitution, the Guerrillas increased their activity. On September both sides achieved some progress regarding the process of negotiation, but in the first week of October the kidnapping of the President of the Lower House of the Congress hazarded the process. A ceasefire agreement was reached and negotiations were to be resumed in Tlaxcala, México on February 1992.
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1992 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: Talks were held between the government and the Simón Bolívar Guerrilla Coordination Body (CGSB) in Mexico in March. The issues addressed were more related to structural matters and governmental policies rather than the process of negotiation itself. However, the government refused to initiate negotiations if a ceasefire had not been achieved. The CGSB did not agree. During the process, the faction of the EPL kidnapped political leader Argelino Durán who died in captivity. The event lead to a definitive end of negotiations.
CGSB consisted of the groups: FARC, ELN, EPL, M-19, Workers Revolutionary Party - PRT and the Quintin Lame.
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1993 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1994 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: ELN announced an unilateral ceasefire during the elections. Both ELN and FARC announced willingness to initiate negotiations with the new government.
The CRS (faction of the ELN created in 1991) signed a peace accord with the government on 9 April. The agreement included the demobilization of 600 men (half of them armed).
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1995 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: "President Ernesto Samper Pizano made a series of peace offers to guerrilla groups on 18-19 May. These included a general offer of seats in the Congress to those prepared to lay down arms, and membership of a government-sponsored commission on the modernisation of the political parties and of the Congress, which Samper wanted to become a single chamber. The government promised specifically to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) that it would demilitarise the highly sensitive north-eastern La Uribe region by withdrawing troops to the municipal capital in order to facilitate initial peace contacts. The FARC general secretariat on 21 May conveyed to Samper and all FARC fronts its willingness to sign permanent peace agreements as long as the demilitarisation of such regions as La Uribe took place. It also insisted on "necessary guarantees", especially the governments demonstrated capacity to control the military, before the commencement of talks." (Quoted).
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1996 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: A massive offensive took place during the second half of the year. Attack on military bases resulted in over 100 governmental deaths and a similar figure on captured soldiers as well as the destruction of Military bases. "Before the offensive both rebel groups indicated a willingness to negotiate a peace treaty. FARC leader Manuel Marulanda (alias "Tirofijo"), in a letter on 15 August, stated that a peace agreement was possible if the government agreed to demilitarise four (unnamed) municipalities, rescind a number of "repressive" decrees and hold elections for a Constituent Assembly to amend the 1991 Constitution. Marulanda was reportedly responding to a message from former Foreign Minster Augusto Ramírez Ocampo, who headed a voluntary "conciliation" committee. On 15 August the government had agreed to regional peace negotiations between department governors and the guerrillas, restricted to "humanitarian" issues, as proposed by imprisoned leaders of the ELN and the Popular Liberation Army (EPL)" (Quoted).
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1997 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: In a letter sent to President Ernesto Samper Pizano on 21 August, the FARC guerrillas stated their willingness to enter into framework peace talks with the government. As revealed on 24 August, the government and the FARC had already engaged in a secret preliminary meeting held in Costa Rica on 19 June, and representatives from both sides met again in Mexico City on 26 August. No details of the talks were released. FARC made its participation in the peace process conditional on the creation of demilitarised zones, without "prior conditions", in line with a humanitarian agreement, signed with the government in June, which had led the guerrillas to release 70 captured soldiers and marines. In response to FARCs letter, Samper stated on 22 August that every effort would be made, including the designation of a combat-free, to facilitate a meeting with the organisations national secretariat. However he also warned that the state would continue to respond to all forms of violence with the "legitimate use of force as specified in the constitution. The possibility of initiating peace talks was dismissed by the FARC later that year (29 September).
The ELN launched a proposal for the beginning of new negotiations on November 1st. The initiative called for the establishment of a national convention to discuss the conditions for peace and of a constituent national assembly to reform the Constitution. According to the proposal, the government would participate in these bodies together with other representatives of "civil society", including trade unions, non-government organisations (NGOs) and intellectuals.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: Costa Rica & Mexico
Comment on Third Party Involvement: On 19 June the government and the FARC engaged in a secret preliminary meeting held in Costa Rica.
Representatives from both sides met again in Mexico City on 26 August. No details of the talks were released.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1998 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: President elect Andrés Pastrana held an unprecedented encounter in a jungle hideout with Manuel “shureshot” (Tirofijo) Marulanda, the leader of the FARC, on 9 July. After the meeting Pastrana announced the beginning of a dialogue with FARC. He stated that he would comply with FARC demands to de-militarise five municipalities as one of the conditions for peace talks, and that talks would begin within 90 days of Pastranas inauguration on 7 August. As agreed the government evacuated the military from the area - a demilitarized zone the size of Switzerland - in San Vicente del Caugan on 7 November.
In late November government representatives flew into the demilitarized zone in southeast Colombia and talked with FARC leaders about breathing new life into the countrys flagging peace process. Both sides agreed on inaugurating official peace talks on 7 January 1999. The talks were originally scheduled so that government representatives could outline the governments response to a call by FARC commander Manuel "Sureshot" Marulanda for the release of more than 400 jailed guerrillas in exchange for the handover of about 300 security force members being held prisoner by the FARC.
On 9 February ELN representatives and two government peace negotiators, Daniel García-Peña and José Noé Ríos, signed an accord in Spain “the Palace if Viana Pre-Agreement in Madrid” in which the ELN agreed to hold preliminary peace talks on 5-7 June. The accord was not made public until March 25. A meeting was held in Mainz, Germany (under the auspices of the German government) in late June between ELN, the Colombian government and Catholic Church representatives. They agreed on core points of a programme aimed at securing peace in the country. They also discussed the issue of agrarian reform. ELN agreed to stop kidnappings while making other efforts to help end the countrys 34-year civil conflict.
In late August a meeting was held in Geneva, Switzerland between ELN, the Colombian Gov. and Catholic, brokered by the Swiss-based International Committee of the Red Cross. Talks focused on much needed efforts to ensure respect for international humanitarian law in Colombia and better protect its beleaguered civilian population from political bloodletting.
On October 11-12 a meeting was held in the jungle (in the province of Antioquia) between 25 men representing the Colombian government, civil society, and ELN. The meeting provided a timetable for preliminary peace talks due to begin on February, 1999. The ELN stressed the importance of the presence of non-governmental representatives and committed in the continuation of peace talks with the government of President Pastrana. Spain served as a guarantor of the peace talks.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: Spain, Germany, Switzerland, the Catholic Church, the Red Cross
Comment on Third Party Involvement: Talks between the government and FARC on 9 July, in which they agreed to set up a demilitarized zone for the purpose of peace talks, were set up by the Red Cross and appeared to have taken place in eastern Meta province, a traditional FARC stronghold.
"The Palace of Viana Pre-Agreement in Madrid”, in which the ELN agreed to hold preliminary peace talks on 5-7 June, was signed between ELN and the government in Spain in on 9 February.
Under the auspices of the German government, a meeting was held between ELN, the Colombian government and Catholic Church representatives. in Mainz, Germany in late June. They agreed on core points of a programme aimed at securing peace in the country
In late August a meeting was held in Geneva, Switzerland between ELN, the Colombian Government and Catholic, brokered by the Swiss-based International Committee of the Red Cross. Talks focused on much needed efforts to ensure respect for international humanitarian law in Colombia and better protect its beleaguered civilian population from political bloodletting.
Spain served as a guarantor of peace talks in October, in the jungle province of Antioquia, between 25 men representing the Colombian government, civil society, and ELN. The meeting studied an agenda for the National Convention for peace.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1999 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: President Andrés Pastrana formally opened preliminary peace talks with FARC in the demilitarized zone, San Vicente del Caguán, on 7 January. It was the first time that a sitting president had met with leaders of the FARC, Manuel Marulanda failed to attend the meeting and the group was instead represented by a middle-ranking rebel commander, Joaquín Gómez. Guerrilla spokesmen had earlier said that Marulanda might boycott the talks because of security concerns. The aim of the preliminary talks was to reach agreement on an agenda and a venue for full-fledged negotiations between the FARC and the government later in the year. Obstacles emerged soon when addressing issues like paramilitary groups, a commission of verification and negotiation without a ceasefire. Talks were resumed in May. Talks were again postponed indefinitely on 17 June. On 14 October the parties initiated officially to negotiate the pre-established twelve-points agenda. By November, the public hearings intended to open spaces to civil society had begun. FARC called a Christmas truce on 20 December, after the army sent out more than 100 000 Christmas cards to rebels urging them to put down their guns for the holiday season. The unilateral ceasefire was due to stay in effect until 10 January 2000.
In February ELN and the Colombian government met for secret talks to map out an agenda for peace. The talks, hosted by the Venezuelan government at an undisclosed location in the capital Caracas, brought together the Colombian governments peace commissioner, Victor Ricardo, and two ELN commanders. The conversations dealt with an ELN proposal to hold national conventions with government, religious, business and community leaders as a first step to finding a peaceful solution to the prolonged conflict.
The talks were also expected to cover an ELN call a week earlier to President Andres Pastrana for the creation of another demilitarized area, as a precondition for further peace talks, in northern Colombia (the province Bolivar). However, after the meeting in Venezuela, the Colombian government announced that it was not willing to set up a demilitarized zone. Shortly after the government’s announcement, on 16 February, ELN stated that it was breaking off talks with the government.
A few months later after some proximity talks, the government withdrew the political recognition to the ELN when the organisation kidnapped over 100 people in two different operations. In Cuba, on 3 November, the government concluded an agreement with representatives of the ELN under which peace talks would begin before the end of the year.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: Venezuela, Cuba
Comment on Third Party Involvement: Talks were held in Caracas, Venezuela in February about mapping out an agenda for peace. ELN posed, as a precondition for further talks, that the government created a demilitarized zone in the north of Colombia. When the government announced unwilling to do so, the ELN called off further peace talks.
In talks, hosted in Cuba in November, ELN and the government agreed to continue talks in the beginning of 2000.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2000 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: Talks continued during 2000 divided into three broad areas: (i) the economic and social model, including the agrarian structure and income distribution; (ii) human rights and international humanitarian law; and (iii) reform of the state. Six months was set as the deadline for reaching agreement on each area, giving a total duration of 18 months for the negotiations. If agreement could not be reached on one topic, the negotiators would move on to the next. Most of the talks were held in the demilitarized zone, San Vicente del Caugan, but talks were also held in Venezuela in June. Representatives of FARC and the government made a European Tour in order to accelerate peace talks and learn about different experiences on social development. The countries included Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Italy and Spain. Negotiations were freeze later that year after a misattribution of a "necklace bombing" to the FARC. In April an open meeting with the public present, focusing on employment and boosting of the economy, was held between FARC and the Colombian government in the demilitarized zone. Negotiations were resumed on September. In October a commission made up of two members of the Table of Negotiation and Dialogue, one designated by the FARC-EP, and another designated by the national government was created. The task of this commission was to determine the solution to the existing "impasse" of the peace talks, within a term of one month, and to report to the table the decision it has adopted. On mid November, FARC suspended peace talks as a protest for the implementation of the recently achieved Plan Colombia aid package and the governments favouring of “right-wing terrorism”, referring to the linkages they saw between the government and the paramilitaries. In the end of November, however, talks resumed and on 6 December the Colombian government and FARC reached an agreement on exchanging prisoners of war for the first time in the rebels nearly 40-year insurgency. In the spirit of humanitarianism, it was decided that 10 soldiers, policemen and FARC guerrillas with illnesses would be released.
On April the government agreed to create a haven (some 4800 sq. km) in the north of the country from which the ELN could start peace talks. Unlike the FARC, the ELN accepted restrictions, including international verification. The ELN had announced on 12 April that it would observe a truce during Holy Week and would free the remaining hostages of the Avianca plane which had been hijacked a year before. The decision, however, encountered resistance from the inhabitants of the region delaying the initiation of peace talks. Some achievements regarding drug trafficking had been achieved by early October.
An agreement on the rules for future peace talks was struck at meetings held in Cuba, Venezuela and Colombia on 5 February by representatives of the government and the ELN central command. The ELN committed itself in the nine-point memorandum to respect the civil, judicial and religious authorities, while the government will pull back army and police forces stationed in negotiations zone, which has yet to be defined.
The Colombian government and ELN agreed in Havana on March 3 to create a neutral zone in northern Colombia (southern Bolivar province) that would permit the rebel group to resume a peace process. Unlike the FARC, the ELN accepted restrictions, including international verification. The ELN had announced on 12 April that it would observe a truce during Holy Week and would free the remaining hostages of the Avianca plane which had been hijacked a year before. The decision, however, encountered resistance from the inhabitants of the region delaying the initiation of peace talks.
On 24-25 July representatives of Colombias government, civil society and ELN held a two-day meeting in Geneva organized by the Swiss government. Talks aimed at setting up a cease-fire that would pave the way for definitive peace negotiations. They also discussed the release of hostages. After talks ELN freed a group of persons, who they had held hostage for 16 months.
In October, 16-18, a three day international conference on peace in Colombia was held in Costa Rica and organized by the NGO Peace Colombia. Both Colombian government, ELN and Colombian civil society organizations (NGOs) were represented. FARC decided not to participate. A total of 300 persons were present of which observers from 37 different countries. Human rights issues, the anti-drug initiative Plan Colombia, and a cease fire between guerrilla groups and the army were discussed but no consensus was reached on any of these issues. However, the summit led to the signing of the "Declaration of San Jose Costa Rica and the Declaration of the National Liberation Army (ELN) at the `International Meeting on Peace, Human Rights and International Humanitarian Rights in Colombia".
The Colombian government met with ELN on Cuba December 22 and discussed the release of prisoners. ELN decided to release 42 prisoners as a gesture of peace. A few days later, December 26, government- and ELN representatives discussed a demilitarized zone in the northern provinces Bolivar and Antioquia, for the purpose of peace negotiations. However, the six-hour meeting did not lead to any agreement on the issue. Community activists participated in the talks.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: Cuba, Venezuela, Swizerland, Costa Rica, UN
Comment on Third Party Involvement: On 3-14 February a joint group of seven FARC guerrillas and five Colombian government peace negotiators, including the president of congress, visited Sweden, Norway, Italy, the Vatican, Switzerland, Spain and France to explain Colombias violence and be briefed on the workings of advanced democracy and welfare states. The three-week European tour was designed to seek aid to end decades of civil conflict and build confidence in peace talks.
On 19 June representatives of the government and FARC met in Caracas for secret talks about cease fire in search of peace. Venezuelas foreign minister acted as a facilitator of the talks.
On 30 November United Nations special envoy to Colombia Jan Egeland met with both President Pastrana and the FARC, separately, and urged them to return to the negotiating table. After the meeting Pastrana decided to extend the demilitarized zone for negotiations with FARC until 31 January 2001.
On 5 February the Colombian government and ELN guerrillas met in Cuba, Venezuela and Colombia and agreed on the rules for future peace talks. In the nine-point memorandum the ELN committed itself to respect the civil, judicial and religious authorities, while the government would pull back army and police forces stationed in negotiations zone, which were yet to be defined. On 3 March the Colombian government and ELN agreed to create a neutral zone in northern Colombia (southern Bolivar province) that would permit the rebel group to resume a peace process. The agreement was reached during talks in Havana between Colombias ambassador to Cuba, Julio Londoño Paredes and ELN spokesman Pablo Beltran.
On 24-25 July representatives of Colombias government, civil society and ELN held a two-day meeting in Geneva organized by the Swiss government. Talks aimed at setting up a ceasefire that would pave the way for definitive peace negotiations. They also discussed the release of hostages. After talks ELN freed a group of persons, who they had held hostage for 16 months.
On 16-18 October a three day international conference on peace in Colombia, organized by the NGO “Peace Colombia” was held in Costa Rica. Representatives of the Colombian government, ELN and Colombian civil society organizations (NGOs) participated (FARC decided not to participate). A total of 300 persons were present of which observers from 37 different countries. Human rights issues, the anti-drug initiative Plan Colombia, and a ceasefire between guerrilla groups and the army were discussed but no consensus was reached on any of the issues. The three day peace summit in Costa Rica led to the "Declaration of San Jose Costa Rica and the Declaration of the National Liberation Army (ELN) at the `International Meeting on Peace, Human Rights and International Humanitarian Rights in Colombia":
The Colombian government met with ELN in Cuba on 22 December and discussed the release of prisoners. ELN decided to release 42 prisoners as a gesture of peace.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2001 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: On 21 January the government peace negotiator travelled to the demilitarized enclave and met with FARC representatives to get the rebels to come back to the negotiating table before January 31, when the buffer zone program were to come to an end. On 26 January a meeting was held. The Colombian high commissioner for peace, Camilo Gomez, met on October 4 with leaders of FARC to prepare for the historic meeting between Pastrana and Marulanda planned for October 8. On 9 February President Pastrana and the FARC leader Marulanda met in the demilitarized zone for two day with the purpose of reviving the peace talks. They discussed Pastranas anti-cocaine "Plan Colombia", which is built around $1 billion in mostly military U.S. aid, human rights, and a possible exchange of sick prisoners held by both sides. On16 February peace talks between the government and FARC begun in the demilitarized zone. A possible ceasefire topped the peace agenda and other peace-related issues. The two sides also announced they would invite international observers to visit the demilitarized zone on March 8 to observe the progress in the peace process. On 23 February FARC members sat down with government negotiators in a jungle village in a rebel-controlled demilitarized area of southern Colombia for closed-door talks. They discussed a cease-fire, but the rebels commander predicted progress would be difficult as the two sides focused on "concrete issues. On 25 February the Colombian government and the FARC resumed negotiations in the demilitarized zone on an agreement for the "humanitarian exchange" of uniformed men for jailed rebels.
On 19-22 February representatives of the Colombian government, FARC guerrillas and diplomats from eight countries met in the neutral zone San Vicente del Caugan in southern Colombia to set up a March 8 meeting with delegates of 27 countries, who would discuss the peace process. The meeting was attended by diplomats from Canada, Cuba, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden and Venezuela, several of the so-called "Facilitating Countries," as agreed on February 9 at a meeting between President Andres Pastrana and top FARC leader Manuel "Tirofijo" Marulanda Velez. The parties explored "forms of cooperation in the peace process" and issues to be included in the agenda of the March 8 meeting.
Ambassadors from 26 nations and delegates from the European Commission and the United Nations opened historic peace talks on March 8 with leaders of FARC and Gov. peace commissioner, in the "neutral zone" in southern Colombia, hoping to encourage a settlement to their long-standing armed conflict. This was the first-time participation by foreign governments in talks between the Colombian government and FARC. The government and FARC agreed on the formation of two commissions formed by representatives of 26 nations. The delegates of 10 nations - Canada, Cuba, Spain, France, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Venezuela - will form the so-called "facilitating commission." The other "friendly nations and international bodies commission" will be formed by delegates of the 10 nations and Germany, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Britain, the Vatican, as well as the United Nations and the European Union (EU). Government negotiator Luis Fernando Criales said that the facilitating commission, as well as the friendly nations panel, would meet biannually to discuss ways of moving the peace process forward.
On 18 April the Colombian government and FARC resumed peace talks (about cease-fire) in the so-called detente zone in the south of the country.
Sweden hosted informal peace talks on 23-25 April between the Colombian government (President Andres Pastranas chief peace negotiator) and FARC leaders.
On 4-5 October the Colombian government and Marxist FARC rebels were in last-minute talks with only five days left to save a peace process gravely wounded by the killing of a former minister last week. They agreed to study the possibility of a cease-fire. On 26 oktober the Colombian governments chief peace negotiator met FARC rebel leaders on but the guerrillas insisted they would not return to stalled peace talks. Rebel spokesman Raul Reyes read out a letter to President Andres Pastrana reiterating demands that the government reverse moves to tighten controls on the southern Colombian enclave held by the guerrillas and eliminate far-right paramilitary groups. The rebels objected to government patrols around the enclave and flights above the area. On 7 and 23 November the government and FARC held talks to try to revive the ailing peace process. New attempts to revive peace talks were made in the demilitarized zone on 8 December by Colombias High Commissioner for Peace, Camilo Gomez. On 24 December, after a five-hour meeting in the rebel-controlled demilitarized zone in south Colombia, between FARC and government representatives, the two sides agreed to discuss such issues as ceasefire and halt of hostilities in renewed talks.
Colombias government officials and leaders of ELN met with international mediators in Havana on January 15, but a peace accord anticipated by Colombian media proved to be elusive. Colombian High Commissioner for Peace Camilo Gomez and ELN Nicolas Rodriguez informed envoys of Cuba, Switzerland, France, Norway and Spain of their efforts toward peace. Colombian President Andres Pastrana left for Europe January 19 to discuss his countrys peace process and ways to make his anti-drug campaign more effective. The official part of Pastranas tour begun in France, January 22, which together with Cuba, Spain, Norway and Switzerland, forms a group of foreign mediators trying to facilitate a peace deal between Bogota and the ELN. The EU had also asked FARC to join the talks. However, Pastrana had to cut short his European visit in an apparent effort to help salvage negotiations back home.
On 26-27 January government peace negotiatior met with ELN leaders in the northern province Bolivar. ELN wanted a demilitarized enclave for themselves as a condition to start full-scale peace talks. The two parties agreed on rules for the demilitarize zone. On 27 they forged a lengthy agreement to set aside an area for peace negotiations that appeared to have been written with an eye to avoiding abuses reported in the area ceded FARC rebels.The agreement includeed 60 points in which the ELN agreed not to intimidate, kidnap, extort, punish, arrest or forcibly recruit people in the area. The fabrication and sale of arms is explicitly prohibited in the area, and the area cannot be used to launch attacks or withdraw and regroup.
In talks on 6 March on a planned "demilitarized" zone in the northern state of Bolivar, representatives of the government and ELN were joined by foreign delegates. Representatives of the governments of Canada, Germany, Japan, Portugal and Switzerland were present. Discussion focused on the planned role for an international commission in verifying that government and guerrillas keep agreements on the day-to-day operation of the zone.
The Colombian government agreed on March 13 to the formation of a committee composed of diplomatic negotiators and civilians to seek a way to get the ELN guerrillas to rejoin peace talks, which they broke off three days earlier. The committee was set up after a lengthy meeting of the high commissioner for peace, Camilo Gomez, with the group of five "friendly countries" who have assumed an interest in the talks - Cuba, Spain, France, Norway and Switzerland - and the so-called Facilitating Commission. The meeting took place in the Casa de Nariño, the seat of the Executive Branch in Bogota, shortly after delegates from those two negotiating bodies returned from a meeting in the countrys northern jungle with the Central Command of the ELN.
On 19 March high Commissioner for Peace Camilo Gomez Alzate had a meeting regarding the peace talks with the spokesmen of ELN, who were imprisoned in Itagui - Francisco Galan and Felipe Torres.
On 1 April the Colombias top peace negotiator met with rebels of ELN in an effort to restart peace talks frozen last month after a military offensive in northern Colombia. The meeting in a rural area of the northern Bolivar province was announced a day after United Nations officials met with leaders of ELN, to discuss the creation of a demilitarized zone in northern Colombia as a venue for peace negotiations with the government.
The Colombian government and ELN reached an agreement in Cuba on November 24 to formally resume peace talks, including cease-fire negotiations set for December 12.
Representatives from the Colombian government and ELN met in Cuba deliberating on a signed agreement to formally resume peace talks. They agreed to launch discussions in January on a cease-fire in a breakthrough the two sides said renews hopes for a peace accord. The "Havana Declaration" was agreed on between the government and ELN in Cuba on December 15. It was a calender for further peace talks running from January to June 2002 including, among others, issues such as: human rights, democracy, agrarian problems, drug-trafficking, substitution of drug crops, issues related to natural resources, economy and social problems. On 22 December the Colombias government reopened formal peace negotiations with ELN, following a breakthrough at meetings in Havana.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: Canada, Cuba, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden, Venezuela, Switzerland, EU, UN
Comment on Third Party Involvement: On 22 February representatives of the Colombian government, FARC guerrillas and diplomats from eight countries met in the neutral zone San Vicente del Caugan in southern Colombia to set up a March 8 meeting with delegates of 27 countries, who would discuss the peace process. The meeting was attended by diplomats from Canada, Cuba, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden and Venezuela, several of the so-called "Facilitating Countries," as agreed on Feb. 9 at a meeting between President Andres Pastrana and top FARC leader Manuel "Tirofijo" Marulanda Velez. The parties explored "forms of cooperation in the peace process" and issues to be included in the agenda of the March 8 meeting.
Ambassadors from 26 nations and delegates from the European Commission and the United Nations opened historic peace talks on March 8 with leaders of FARC and Gov. peace commissioner, in the "neutral zone" in southern Colombia, hoping to encourage a settlement to their long-standing armed conflict. This was the first-time participation by foreign governments in talks between the Colombian government and FARC. The Gov. and FARC agreed on the formation of two commissions formed by representatives of 26 nations. The delegates of 10 nations - Canada, Cuba, Spain, France, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Venezuela - will form the so-called "facilitating commission." The other "friendly nations and international bodies commission" will be formed by delegates of the 10 nations and Germany, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Britain, the Vatican, as well as the United Nations and the European Union (EU). Government negotiator Luis Fernando Criales said that the facilitating commission, as well as the friendly nations panel, would meet biannually to discuss ways of moving the peace process forward.
Sweden hosted informal peace talks on 23-25 April between the Colombian government (President Andres Pastranas chief peace negotiator) and FARC leaders.
Colombias government officials and leaders of ELN met with international mediators in Havana on January 15, but a peace accord anticipated by Colombian media proved to be elusive. Colombian High Commissioner for Peace Camilo Gomez and ELN Nicolas Rodriguez informed envoys of Cuba, Switzerland, France, Norway and Spain of their efforts toward peace. Colombian President Andres Pastrana left for Europe January 19 to discuss his countrys peace process and ways to make his anti-drug campaign more effective. The official part of Pastranas tour begun in France, January 22, which together with Cuba, Spain, Norway and Switzerland, forms a group of foreign mediators trying to facilitate a peace deal between Bogota and the ELN. The EU had also asked FARC to join the talks. However, Pastrana had to cut short his European visit in an apparent effort to help salvage negotiations back home.
In talks on 6 March on a planned "demilitarized" zone in the northern state of Bolivar, representatives of the government and ELN were joined by foreign delegates. Representatives of the governments of Canada, Germany, Japan, Portugal and Switzerland were present. Discussion focused on the planned role for an international commission in verifying that government and guerrillas keep agreements on the day-to-day operation of the zone.
The Colombian government agreed on March 13 to the formation of a committee composed of diplomatic negotiators and civilians to seek a way to get the ELN guerrillas to rejoin peace talks, which they broke off three days earlier. The committee was set up after a lengthy meeting of the high commissioner for peace, Camilo Gomez, with the group of five "friendly countries" who have assumed an interest in the talks - Cuba, Spain, France, Norway and Switzerland - and the so-called Facilitating Commission. The meeting took place in the Casa de Nariño, the seat of the Executive Branch in Bogota, shortly after delegates from those two negotiating bodies returned from a meeting in the countrys northern jungle with the Central Command of the ELN.
On 1 April the Colombias top peace negotiator met with rebels of ELN in an effort to restart peace talks frozen last month after a military offensive in northern Colombia. The meeting in a rural area of the northern Bolivar province was announced a day after United Nations officials met with leaders of ELN, to discuss the creation of a demilitarized zone in northern Colombia as a venue for peace negotiations with the government.
The Colombian government and ELN reached an agreement in Cuba on November 24 to formally resume peace talks, including cease-fire negotiations set for December 12.
Representatives from the Colombian government and ELN met in Cuba deliberating on a signed agreement to formally resume peace talks. They agreed to launch discussions in January on a cease-fire in a breakthrough the two sides said renews hopes for a peace accord. The "Havana Declaration" was agreed on between the government and ELN in Cuba on December 15. It was a calender for further peace talks running from January to June 2002 including, among others, issues such as: human rights, democracy, agrarian problems, drug-trafficking, substitution of drug crops, issues related to natural resources, economy and social problems. On 22 December the Colombias government reopened formal peace negotiations with ELN, following a breakthrough at meetings in Havana.
The US authorities announced on 5 October, in the wake of the 11 September attacks on the USA, a revised list of the 28 most dangerous terrorist organisations in the world, which included both FARC and ELN.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2002 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: President Pastrana broke off three years off peace talks with FARC on February 21 (Resolution No 31 2002) after FARC hijacked a commercial plane with senator Eduardo Gechem aboard. Gechem was taken by FARC to an undiscovered location. President Uribe won the presidential elections with the slogan “Firm hand, big heart” illustrating that he was determined to fight ‘outlaws’ both on the political left and to the right.
Analysts suspected that the lack of large-scale FARC actions during the first 100 days in office of Uribe were due to a strategic withdrawal rather than military weakening.
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: "Low estimate: 1156
High estimate: 1374
Best estimate: 1156."
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: On 20 January Los Pozos Accord was signed in the DeMilitarized Zone (DMZ). FARC pledged not to carry out any more mass kidnappings and to sign for implementation of ceasefire by 7 April 2002. The government agreed to include the issue of the paramilitary organizations. FARC did not sign a truce or a ceasefire, it confirmed its intentions to seek ways to diminish the conflict. Present in the signing of this agreement was Kofi Annan and the Catholic Church. The Colombian government and FARC agreed that the international community should accompany the peace processes as permanent observers. 21 February the government ended the peace talks with FARC (Resolution No 31 2002) after FARC hijacked a commercial plane with senator Eduardo Gechem aboard. Gechem was taken by FARC to an undiscovered location. Pastrana, thus, broke off three years off peace talks with FARC.
The government declared a large part of the south a “war zone” giving the military special powers to restrict people’s movements and resume identity papers etc. FARC blamed the government for breaking peace talks and not giving FARC 48 hours to leave DMZ. It blamed the government for being puppets of the US increased influence. FARC expressed willingness to exchange prisoners.
Moreover, FARC didnt want international presence in the peace process. They accused the UN and the OAS of being agents of the US and disapproved of President Uribes announcement that the UN would mediate in the Colombian conflict – without consulting them first.
Analysts suspected that the lack of large-scale FARC actions during the first 100 days in office of Uribe were due to a strategic withdrawal rather than military weakening.
Peace talks in Havana, Cuba 29-31 January, The objective of the peace summit was to establish an agenda for further peace talks. ELN has, in discussions with the government, agreed to retain its weapons and neither localize nor demobilize its forces during the truce which will last for six months, briefly overlapping with the term of the new president. During the truce, ELN would engage in new activities to find political solutions to the conflict. In March and April the government and ELN met again in Cuba to discuss possibilities of truce. In October the ELN and the government met to explore possibilities of further peace talks.
ELN rebels were suspicious of UN mediation of the war due to impartiality.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: Cuba, UN, the Catholic Church
Comment on Third Party Involvement: Present in the signing of the los Pozos Accord on 20 January were Kofi Annan and the Catholic Church. The Colombian government under President Pastrana and FARC agreed that the international community should accompany the peace processes as permanent observers.
However, later on the same year after the election of the president Uribe, FARC announced it didnt want international presence in the peace process. They accused the UN and the OAS of being agents of the US and disapproved of President Uribes announcement that the UN would mediate in the Colombian conflict – without consulting them first.
Peace talks in Havana, Cuba 29-31 January, The objective of the peace summit was to establish an agenda for further peace talks. ELN has, in discussions with the government, agreed to retain its weapons and neither localize nor demobilize its forces during the truce which will last for six months, briefly overlapping with the term of the new president. During the truce, ELN would engage in new activities to find political solutions to the conflict. In March and April the government and ELN met again in Cuba to discuss possibilities of truce.
ELN rebels were suspicious of UN mediation of the war due to impartiality.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2003 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In August FARC and ELN agreed to form a military alliance.
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: "Low estimate: 475
High estimate: 521
Best estimate: 500"
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: When President Uribe won the elections in 2002 with the slogan ”Firm hand, big heart”, he was determined to fight outlaws both on the political left and to the right. He stated that he was willing to meet with them on the condition that they first declared a ceasefire, which AUC did in December 2002. Uribe’s hope was that FARC and ELN would follow the example of AUC, but as of the end of this year that has not happened.
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2004 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 2004 the government intensified the military offensive against the guerrillas through ‘Plan Patriota’ (the Patriot Plan).
As a result, compared to previous year, the number of deaths in the conflict increased more than 100 %. The conflict is still active throughout the country with FARC heartland mainly in the south and ELN in the north.
The EPL-Government dyad, active in 1989, reaches 26 battle-related deaths and, thus becomes active this year.
Another dyad ERP reaches the number of 12 battle-related deaths in its fight against the government and the Guevarist Revolutionary Army (ERG) reaches 4 battle related deaths.
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: "Low estimate: 1210
High estimate: 1286
Best estimate: 1234
On a few occasions FARC and ELN have carried out joint actions. Those actions (12 battle-related deaths) have been attributed FARC."
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: The government made several attempts for prisoners swap with FARC. FARC did not accept the conditions for the exchange saying that the governments offer was lacking realism and seriousness. FARC, in turn, demanded the creation of a demilitarized zone in the south of the country as a venue for further negotiations - a demand which was rejected by President Uribe.
Attempt to talks were made between the government and ELN. Mexicos president Vicente Fox was enlisted as guarantor of renewed peace negotiations with ELN. ELNs spokesman Fransisco Galán was freed from prison for the day, on 4 June, to discuss possible peace talks and the next step would be to draft an agenda for direct dialogue. However, the next step did not take place. ELN was doubtful since the governments strategy is the one of war and not of peace. President Uribe had announced willing to negotiate with any group that declared unilateral ceasefire.
Third party involvement: NO
Third party involvement names: Mexico
Comment on Third Party Involvement: Attempt to talks were made between the government and ELN. Mexicos president Vicente Fox was enlisted as guarantor of renewed peace negotiations with ELN. ELNs spokesman Fransisco Galán was freed from prison for the day, on 4 June, to discuss possible peace talks and the next step would be to draft an agenda for direct dialogue.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2005 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: The conflict continued to be active in both the FARC and ELN dyads. Locations and intensity have not changed significantly from previous year. In 2004 the government intensified the military offensive against the guerrillas through ‘Plan Patriota’ (the Patriot Plan). When government troops have carried out “Patriot-Plan-activities” in FARC heartland of Caquetá, Putumayo and Guaviare provinces in southern Colombia, FARC has responded with counter-attacks in neighbouring provinces, to take some pressure off their heartland. In early 2005, the FARC announced it was moving into a new offensive phase ‘Plan Resistencia’ (final offensive). One explanation to the increase of attacks since the beginning of 2005 could be that FARC wants to defend its countryside influence for the coming legislative and presidential elections in 2006, yet another explanation could be that FARC seeks to undermine the public perception that the security situation has substantially improved.
The EPL-Government dyad, active in 2004, was not active this year (14 battle related deaths). The ERP-government dyad reached the number of 11 battle-related deaths and the Guevarist Revolutionary Army (ERG) reached 3 battle-related deaths.
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: "Low estimate: 1389
High estimate: 1455
Best estimate: 1389
On four occations FARC and ELN have carried out jount actions. Those actions have been attributed FARC. One coded event in which FARC, ELN and EPR carried out a joint action has also been included in the FARC dyad."
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: Peace talks were held in the ELN-Government dyad. Talks opened in Havanna, Cuba on 16 December and lasted until 20 December. The talks were led by Colombian peace commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo and Antonio Garcia, military chief of ELN, and observed by representatives from Cuba, Norway, Spain and Swizerland. The peace agenda was discussed.
The talks ended with an agreement to have a new round of talks on Cuba in January 2006. Building the agenda for the negotiation will be one of the basic aspects to be considered at that meeting.
Both the government and the FARC expressed willingness to negotiate an exchange of hostages held by the rebels for guerrillas held in government jails. But they have yet to agree on terms for talks.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: Cuba, Norway, Spain and Swizerland
Comment on Third Party Involvement: Peace talks opened in Havanna, Cuba on 16 December and lasted until 20 December. The talks were led by Colombian peace commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo and Antonio Garcia, military chief of ELN, and observed by representatives from Cuba, Norway, Spain and Swizerland. The peace agenda was discussed.
The talks ended with an agreement to have a new round of talks on Cuba in January 2006. Building the agenda for the negotiation will be one of the basic aspects to be considered at that meeting.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2006 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: The conflict continued to be active in both the FARC and ELN dyads. Intensity reduced significantly from previous year – with more than 50%. After the government’s offensive in 2004, ‘Plan Patriota’ (the Patriot Plan), and the FARC’s counter-attack ‘Plan Resistencia’ (final offensive), it seems that the conflict calmed down in 2006. This was also the year of presidential elections and Uribe was elected in May for another 4-year term. The government held peace talks with the ELN on Cuba on several occasions throughout the year. In October the parties agreed on a framework for negotiations. ELN announced its first-ever unilateral truce to last until after congressional elections. Attempts to negotiate a humanitarian accord were made between FARC and the government. On October all attempts to negotiate a humanitarian accord abruptly ended when President Uribe blamed the FARC of being behind a car-bomb attack, injuring 23 people, on a military facility in Bogotá. The president said that FARC used the blast as an excuse to “slam the door” on peace talks and ordered the armed forces to target the FARC leadership. FARC denied accusations, accused Uribe of using the attack as an excuse to end negotiations and accused US government of being behind the attack.
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: "Low estimate: 205
High estimate: 514
Best estimate: 502"
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: Talks were held on Cuba between ELN and the Colombian Government on 17-27 February and again on 25-29 April. The talks were about setting the agenda which would lead to a roadmap for ELN disarmament. The talks did not lead to any concrete progress but with the commitment on both sides to keep the dialogue process going. ELN wanted to include wide-ranging political reforms in Colombia to broaden democratic participation in what they consider a country long ruled by wealthy elites. On 2 March ELN announced its first-ever unilateral truce to last until after congressional elections. ELN’s chief negotiator underlined that the truce was a message to the Colombian people, not to the government.
20-26 October they met again on Cuba and on 26 October they had agreed on a framework for peace negotiations. They would discuss amnesty for the rebel group’s members, the release of kidnapped hostages and a humanitarian deal for millions of refugees displaced by violence. European observers attending the talks, however, said it was too early to consider this a peace process. Further meetings were planned for the end of the year.
Attempts to negotiate a humanitarian accord were made between FARC and the government. FARC proposed exchanging 500 jailed rebels for 62 of the hundreds it holds. These include former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, three US nationals, and dozens of Colombian soldiers, police and politicians.
FARC proposed a bilateral cease-fire conditioned on concrete evidence of withdrawal of government troops from the area in southern Colombia, where FARC had suggested talks to be held. President Uribe conditioned an expanded demilitarized zone for talks on FARC first ceasing fire.
On October all attempts to negotiate a humanitarian accord abruptly ended when President Uribe blamed the FARC of being behind a car-bomb attack, injuring 23 people, on a military facility in Bogotá. The president said that FARC used the blast as an excuse to “slam the door” on peace talks and ordered the armed forces to target the FARC leadership. FARC denied accusations, accused Uribe of using the attack as an excuse to end negotiations and accused US government of being behind the attack.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: Cuba, France, Norway, Spain, Sweden & Switzerland
Comment on Third Party Involvement: Cuba hosted talks between the government and ELN on several occasions throughtout the year.
International facilitator’s from Switzerland, Sweden and Spain were involved in consolidating the initial meetings aimed at designing a negotiating table.
European diplomats monitored the 10 day talks between ELN and the government in Cuba 17-27February. ELN’s peace commissioner, Francisco Galan, and the government’s peace commissioner, Luis Carlos Restrepo, met with spokesperson’s for the Catholic Church and diplomats from Spain, Norway and Switzerland, countries that offered their good offices to the Colombian Government.
Observers from Norway, Spain, France & Switzerland have supported the talks on Cuba.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2007 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: The conflict continued to be active; however, only in the FARC dyads. After the two conflict intensive years 2004-2005, the conflict stayed at the lower intensity level it reached in 2006. Attempts to start negotiations on a humanitarian accord were made between the government and FARC and negotiations were held on Cuba between the government and ELN.
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The figure includes a few incidents where it has been reported leftist guerrilla or leftist rebels, unknown gunmen (thus it could be FARC but we are not sure) and a reporting of scores of candidates and officials having been murdered in Colombia ahead of Oct. 28 local elections by leftist rebels and new gangs replacing right-wing militias.
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: ELN and the Colombian government met on Cuba a few times throughout the year, the first occasion being in February. ELN had proposed a ceasefire with FARC a few days earlier. Both sides are said to be looking to reach a possible "base agreement" that could lead to further negotiations for a peace accord. The governments top priority is reaching a ceasefire agreement with the rebels. Among the ELNs top demands is an amnesty for prisoners -- both ELN rebels and non-rebel social activists and union leaders. The meeting was held behind closed doors and nothing was reported about the outcome of the February meeting. In the end of April the ELN leadership proposed a trial ceasefire, to create a climate of peace and participation. ELN said willing to a bilateral ceasefire if it follows by a release of ELN of prisoners from the government’s side. ELN leadership also said that an obstacle for advancing in the peace process is that the government labels ELN a terrorist group. In May ELN mentioned yet another precondition for ceasefire which was that the government needed to drop a free-trade pact signed with the United States. In June ELN said that once signing a ceasefire agreement they will release their hostages. Pablo Betran, head of the ELN delegation, however, said that a comprehensive peace deal would be far more difficult to reach than a cease-fire. In August a new round of peace talks in Havanna deadlocked. Negotiations restarted again in November.
There were attempts for an exchange of prisoners in a humanitarian agreement. FARC demanded the demilitarisation of the municipalities Pradera and Florida in the province of Valle as a condition for talks. President Uribe, on the other hand, did not show willing to turn the two municipalities into a demilitarised zone. He argued that it would threaten the “democratic security”. The president gave FARC two options either go abroad or remain in the country and benefit from the reintegration programme. The French President Sarkozy urged Uribe not to use force but to negotiate a release of former president candidate Ingrid Betancourt, held hostage by FARC since 2001. The FARC seeked to exchange about 60 so-called political prisoners, including Betancourt and three American military contractors, for hundreds of jailed rebels. Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez was involved in trying to have talks with FARC about the release of hostages held by the FARC, including French- Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and three Americans.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez
Comment on Third Party Involvement: Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez was involved in attempts of mediation with both the FARC and the ELN during 2007, trying to release the FARC held hostages Ingrid Betancourt and three Americans and also in the restart of talks on Cuba between the government and ELN. Chavez’s attempts to mediate was apruptly ended by President Uribe when Chavez disobeyed the conditions of his involvement by speaking directly to Colombias top army chief.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2008 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: The conflict continued to be active in both the FARC and the ELN dyads. After the two conflict intensive years 2004-2005, the conflict continud the trend, thereafter, of decreased activity. The FARC lost its two top commanders: Manuel “Shureshot” Marulanda, who died in a heart attack, and Raul Reyes, who was shot by the army on March 1.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiation: FARC released a total of six high ranking politicians that they had held in hostage. July 2, 2008 the Colombian army rescued Ingrid Betancourt. ELN, handed over nine hostages to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
Comment on Third Party Involvement: Chavez brokered the release of two Colombian FARC held hostages in the beginning of the year.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2009 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 2009 the conflict picked up activity again after the low intensive year 2008, in which two of FARCs top commanders were shot. However, the ELN dyad doesnt reach the threshold of 25 brd.
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2010 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 2010 the conflict remained active with the same intensity as in 2009. The ELN dyad becomes active again. There are close to a dozen military airstrikes on FARC rebel camps causing a large number of fatalities on the rebel side.
It is presidential election year and increased violence around Election Day in late June as well as during the inauguration of the new president in August.
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2011 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 2011 the conflict remained active but with reduced intensity compared to the previous year. The ELN was not active. There were several military airstrikes on FARC rebel camps causing fatalities on the rebel side. The FARC leader Alfonso Cano was killed by the military in the end of the year. The new FARC leader, Timochenko, announced he would continue Canos ideological struggle for social justice.
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2012 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 2012 the conflict remained active with slightly increased intensity compared to the previous year despite the peace negotiations with the government that started in Havana, Cuba in November.
The ELN was not active. There were several military airstrikes on FARC rebel camps causing fatalities on the rebel side.
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: On August 26 FARC and the government met on Cuba and signed a General Agreement for the Termination of the Conflict and the Construction of a Stable and Lasting Peace. The agreement consisted of a six point agenda aiming at reaching a Final Agreement for the termination of the conflict: integrated agricultural development policy, political participation, disarmament (end of the conflict), solution to the problem of illicit drugs, rights of the victims and the peace deal implementation (implementation, verification, ratification). Cuba and Norway would serve as guarantors and the governments of Venezuela and Chile as accompaniers.
FARC and the Colombian government formally launched the peace talks in Oslo, Norway on 18 October. Both parties agreed that a lasting peace had to go beyond putting down weapons and imply more extensive socioeconomic reforms. The government declared it would continue its military operations against FARC and would not consider ceasefire until a final agreement was reached.
The initial phase of the talks started on 19 November in Havana, Cuba. FARC declared a unilateral ceasefire from 20 November to 20 January 2013 as a goodwill gesture. Providing land to the poor was one of five main topics on the negotiating agenda. The other four were: political participation (rights and guarantees for political opposition and democratic mechanisms for civic participation), end of the conflict (that the peace process leads to a cessation of hostilities from both sides and Final Agreement in a limited period of time), solution to the problem of illicit drugs and compensation for the victims.
The Government stated that the peace talks must be concluded preferably within a matter of months but no later than November 2013.
Since August, the ELN also expressed willing to initiate serious and unconditional talks with the government, leading to a stable and durable peace. However, the organisation ruled out the possibility of declaring ceasefire or handing in weapons.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: Cuba, Norway
Comment on Third Party Involvement: Guarantor countries for the peace talks. The talks were launched in Oslo in October and the initial phase of talks were held in Havana in November.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2013 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 2013 the conflict activity reduced to half compared to 2012. The peace negotiations on Cuba between the FARC and the government continued throughout the year, but there were no cease-fire except for during the Christmas Holidays when FARC announced their annual unilateral cease-fire.
The ELN became active again in 2013. In May they launched an attack killing 11 soldiers and in the end of the year there were two clashes resulting in the death of 16 guerillas.
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: FARC and the Colombian government continued the peace talks that were initiated in 2012. The talks were held on Cuba and of the six-point agenda, the parties agreed on two points: 1) the land reform and 2) the political participation. Three points remain to agree on (disarmament, illicit drugs and rights of the victims) before the parties reach the sixth point on the agenda: the peace deal implementation. Cuba hosted the peace talks in 2013.
ELN expressed interest in peace negotiations with the government but no negotiations were initiated during the year.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: Cuba, Norway, Chile and Venezuela
Comment on Third Party Involvement: Cuba and Norway are the "guarantors." of the Peace talks between the government and the FARC. The talks during 2013 were hosted by Cuba. Venezuela and Chile acted as "companions" in the peace talks.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2014 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 2014 the conflict activity continued at the same low level, compared to previous years, as in 2013. The peace negotiations on Cuba between the FARC and the government continued throughout the year. At the end of the year FARC declared unilateral open-ended cease-fire that would only end if they found out that guerilla structures had been targeted by an army attack.
The ELN became inactive again in 2014, just below the threshold with 22 battle related deaths.
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: FARC and the Colombian government continued the peace talks in Cuba that were initiated in 2012. Two of the points on the six point agenda were agreed on during 2013 - the land reform and the political participation. In 2014 the parties agreed on most parts of the third point dealing with a solution to the problem of illicit drugs and they started negotiations on the victims’ rights. Two point on the agenda remains to be agreed on – disarmament and the final peace agreement. At the end of the year FARC declared unilateral open-ended cease-fire that would only end if they found out that guerilla structures had been targeted by an army attack.
Exploratory peace talks with ELN with the intention of developing an agenda designing a process ending the conflict were initiated in the beginning of the year; however, no progress in the talks were reported during the year.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: Cuba, Norway, Chile and Venezuela
Comment on Third Party Involvement: The dialogues are formally guaranteed by Norway and Cuba, and are additionally sponsored by Chile and Venezuela.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2015 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: Although peace talks continued between FARC and the government, fighting between the parties continued and the conflict was active with about the same intensity as in 2014. Fatalities in the FARC dyad reduced, but the ELN dyad became active again leading to about 50 battle related deaths. FARC called off a five month old unilateral ceasefire in May as a reaction to a military raid killing 27 guerrillas. The parties reached two agreements during the year regarding tribunals for ex-combatants and reparations for war victims.
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: FARC and the Colombian government continued the peace talks in Cuba that were initiated in 2012. In September, the government and FARC agreed to establish tribunals for ex-combatants including guerrillas, government soldiers and members of right-wing paramilitary groups. The court would attempt "broadest possible amnesty" and reduced sentences; however, amnesty would not be granted for crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes, hostage-taking, torture, forced displacement, forced disappearance, extrajudicial executions or sexual violence. On December 15, another deal was agreed upon, regarding reparations for war victims. The deal included the establishment of a “Special Peace Jurisdiction” in order to recognize and hear victims, recognizing the responsibility by holding trials for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and compensate victims for suffering caused by the conflict. A deadline for a final peace deal was set for March 23, 2016.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: Cuba, Norway, Chile, Venezuela and Ecuador
Comment on Third Party Involvement: Cuba hosted peace talks between the Government of Colombia and the FARC. The dialogues were formally guaranteed by Norway and Cuba, and were additionally sponsored by Chile and Venezuela. Ecuador hosted peace talks between the Government of Colombia and ELN.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2016 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 2016 the intensity of the government conflict in Colombia decreased as the only active dyad during the year was between the Government of Colombia and ELN.
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: The bilateral and definitive ceasefire accord was signed in Havanna in June. The Government of Colombia and FARC signed the final peace accord in Cartagena, Colombia September 26. In October the congress called for a referendum on the agreement, which resulted in a small majority the Colombian people voting against the agreement. Six weeks after the referendum negotiations were held with the no side, led by former president Alvaro Ùribe. The revised peace accord was taken by the congress on November 24, when the final agreement was signed. During that time President Santos was awarded the Nobel Peace prize, which he received in Oslo in December.
There were discussions about starting formal negotiations between the Government of Colombia and ELN throughout the year, but they were kept on hold as ELN continued with kidnappings and infrastructure attacks. An agreement on an agenda for formal negotiations was reached in March. By October over 250 rebels were reported to have demobilized. Peace talks were planned to start in Ecuador October, but were suspended due to disagreements on key issues.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: Cuba, Norway, Chile and Venezuela
Comment on Third Party Involvement: Cuba hosted talks. Norway and Cuba were guarantor countries, Venezuela and Chile accompanying countries.
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: Peace Agreement
Date of termination: 2016-11-24
Comment on Termination: The Final Peace Agreement was taken by the Colombian Congress and signed on 24 November 2016. Following the signing of the peace agreement with the FARC, intensity of the government conflict in Colombia decreased as ELN was the only group left with an armed struggle against the Government of Colombia.
2017 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: The governmental conflict in Colombia was not active this year. In the aftermath of having signed a peace agreement with the Colombian Government in June, the FARC handed in their weapons in June. The conflict between the Government of Colombia and ELN did not reach the threshold of becoming an active conflict this year.
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: In June 2017 FARC handed in their weapons and the former fighters pledged to continue their struggle as a political movement. A UN Mission was set up to verify the implementation of two aspects of the Final Agreement, namely: reincorporation of the into civilian life and guarantees of security.
ELN and the government began formal peace negotiations in Ecuador in February after more than three years of secret talks to draw up the agenda and logistics In June ELN agreed to work towards a ceasefire. In October ELN and the government begun their first bilateral ceasefire ever. The ceasefire was supervised by the Catholic Church and the UN and were to last until 9 January 2018. ELN said willing to extend if there were sufficient progress in the peace talks with the government.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: UN
Comment on Third Party Involvement: A UN Mission was set up to verify the implementation of the Final Agreement.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2018 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 2018 the conflict became active again in two conflict dyads. A dissident group of FARC fighters FARC dissidents, formed in 2016 by rebels who distanced themselves from the peace negotiations became an active conflict dyad with the Government of Colombia. Two years of attempts to negotiations between the Government of Colombia and ELN broke down during the year and the conflict dyad became active again. 2018 was also a year of presidential elections and Iván Duque Márquez, with a more hard-line stance towards the guerrillas, came to power.
Terminated: NO
2019 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 2019 the conflict in Colombia continued to be active in two dyads: the Government of Colombia – ELN and the Government of Colombia – FARC dissidents. The year started out violently when ELN claimed responsibility for a car bomb attack against a police academy in Bogotá causing the death of 21 police officers. In the second half of the year, a group of former FARC rebels, who supported the peace negotiations with the government between 2012-2016, announced that they would embark on a new offensive and join the dissident movement. There were no attempts for peace negotiations in the conflict during the year.
Terminated: NO
2020 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 2020 the conflict in Colombia was active in one dyad: the Government of Colombia – FARC dissidents. ELN announced a unilateral ceasefire during the month of April suggesting that a temporary truce in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic could represent a step towards building an enduring peace. When the Government of Colombia did not respond reciprocally, ELN terminated the ceasefire and the conflict picked up intensity again. However, the dyad Government of Colombia – ELN did not reach the level of activity for the year.
Terminated: NO
2021 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 2021 the conflict in Colombia: Government, was active in two dyads - the Government of Colombia – FARC dissidents, mostly in the south western parts of the country, and the Government of Colombia – ELN, where fighting took place mostly in the northern parts of the country. Both dyads also had incidents in provinces bordering Venezuela. Five years after the signed agreement between Government of Colombia and the FARC, the conflict Colombia: Government did not see any attempts to peace talks in any of the two active dyads during the year.
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2022 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 2022 the conflict in Colombia: Government, was active in one dyad - the Government of Colombia – FARC - Mordisco. Fighting took place mainly in some southern provinces of the country, (from Cauca in the west to Meta in the east), but also in the province of Arauca bordering Venezuela, where fighting over territory also occurred between FARC - Mordisco – ELN. Gustavo Petro, a former M-19 guerrilla fighter, became the first left-wing candidate in Colombia to be elected president of the country.
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: Since President Gustavo Petro came to office, preparations for peace talks were held in Havana, Cuba with representatives for both the Government of Colombia and the ELN together with Colombia’s High Commissioner for Peace. In December, after 12 days of talks in Caracas, Venezuela, the Government of Colombia](/#/actor/17) and the ELN signed an agreement about a safe return to their lands for Embera indigenous people in Antioquia.
Third party involvement: YES
Comment on Third Party Involvement: The Government of Cuba and the Government of Venezuela hosted talks between the Government of Colombia and ELN.
Terminated: NO
2023 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2024 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2025 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 2025, the “Total Peace” policy faced serious challenges. Talks with the ELN, FARC-EMC, and FARC Segunda Marquetalia were disrupted by repeated ceasefire violations and limited progress, resulting in the suspension of negotiations and the non-renewal of bilateral ceasefires. The year started with a declared state of emergency in The Catatumbo area. These setbacks also exposed internal divisions within the groups, leading to fragmentation and the formation of new armed factions. As a result, violence persisted, with five active state-based dyads: Government of Colombia – ELN, Government of Colombia – FARC-EMC, Government of Colombia – FARC-Segunda Marquetalia, Government of Colombia – EGC and Government of Colombia – EMBF.
Negotiations: YES
Terminated: NO
