SUMMARY

The conflict between AUC and ELN can in some ways be traced back to the long, ongoing struggle of rightwing militias against leftist guerrillas. In the early 1980s, ELN became involved in the illegal drug trade, which became an important source of finance for the ELNs struggle. Also in the early 1980s, right-wing paramilitary forces were formed in Colombia in close relationship with the emerging drug industry, most of them with the purpose of protecting drug barons from the guerrilla movements. The paramilitary groups also became connected to the government's counterinsurgency operations, and received training and weapons from the Colombian military. In 1997, a nationwide paramilitary structure was created in the form of the umbrella organization AUC (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia).

AUC justified its struggle with the claim that it was defending the state against communism and disintegration, but most analysts argue that its interests were mostly linked to the drug industry. AUC reportedly had substantial support from elements in the army, although the government did not officially support them.

ELN, being the smaller of the two main leftist guerrillas remaining in the late 1990s, received less of AUC's direct focus than the much larger FARC guerrilla. AUC leader Carlos Castaño also had something of a personal vendetta against FARC, who were responsible for the kidnapping and death of his father, which might have spared ELN some attention as well. Clashes between AUC and ELN took place in the northern parts of the country and on a few occasions even within the walls of prisons. On one occasion ELN was also aided by FARC in the struggle against their common enemy AUC.

The non-state conflict between AUC and ELN is first included in UCDP data in 1998. Between May and June of that year, clashes between paramilitaries and guerrillas had resulted in more than 25 battle-related deaths.