A significant split has occurred within Colombia’s leftist rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), as a front in the Narino province breaks away from the central command. This marks the first time the ELN has experienced internal dissension leading to a separate faction, which Colombia’s government officially recognized as an independent organization on Wednesday.
The dissident group, known as the Southern Community Front, announced its separation from the wider ELN on Tuesday. Pablo Beltran, head of the rebel group’s peace delegation, quickly confirmed the split. The Colombian government’s peace commissioner’s office issued a statement indicating that they will treat the Narino-based group as a distinct and independent organization from the central ELN with which they are negotiating.
This fragmentation comes at a challenging time for the Colombian government, which is working to implement President Gustavo Petro’s “total peace” policy. The division within the ELN could complicate ongoing peace talks, given that the government aims to end the group’s role in the internal conflict that has claimed over 450,000 lives in six decades.
Additionally, tensions have risen following the ELN’s announcement on Monday that it would resume kidnappings. The group cited the government’s delay in setting up a multi-donor fund to finance the peace process. The peace commissioner’s office expressed concern over this development and vowed to work toward ensuring the ELN adheres to its pledge to abandon kidnapping.
Despite six rounds of negotiations since the end of 2022, recent talks faced a crisis after the government began discussions with the dissident faction in Narino province about surrendering weapons and reintegrating into society. Previous negotiations with the ELN have been challenging due to its radical stances, fragmented chain of command, and internal dissent. This latest development may pose additional hurdles for Colombia’s ongoing peace efforts.
