Colombia

Amid Colombia’s ongoing efforts to establish peace with several domestic armed groups, the Security Council today expanded the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in that country to monitor and verify the implementation of a ceasefire between the Government and the National Liberation Army (ELN). To that end, the Council — through the unanimous adoption of resolution 2694 (2023) — authorized the addition of up to 68 international observers to the Mission, as well as “an appropriate civilian component taking into account existing resources where possible”.

Efforts towards building peace in Colombia following decades of conflict are bearing fruit but the threat of renewed violence still looms, the head of the UN Mission in the country told the Security Council on Wednesday.

Colombia’s largest rebel group said it will stop attacks on the nation’s military as it prepares for a ceasefire with the government that could bring both sides closer to ending five decades of war.

[…] The period was marked by continued efforts to advance peace by Colombian authorities and civil society, as reflected in actions to implement the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace, the approval of key policies and legislation and the continuation of dialogue initiatives to address ongoing conflict-related violence.

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro and ELN commander “Antonio Garcia” announced a six-month ceasefire between the guerrillas and the security forces. The ceasefire was negotiated by government and rebel representatives who are in Cuba to negotiate and end to almost 60 years of armed conflict.

Ceasefire talks between Colombia’s government and guerrilla group ELN were extended after failing to meet a self-imposed deadline for an agreement on Thursday. In a joint statement, the government and rebel negotiators said that talks on a ceasefire and a definitive end to armed conflict will continue until June 8.

[…] President Gustavo Petro’s administration said in a statement that the military will resume attacks on factions of the FARC-EMC group operating in the provinces of Caqueta, Putumayo, Guaviare and Meta, due to the group's lack of commitment to the cease-fire.

Colombia’s government and National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group on Tuesday affirmed a commitment to reaching a ceasefire agreement as they met in Havana for a third round of peace talks. The two sides also agreed on the need for civil society to be involved in any negotiated peace.

An armed dissident group of Colombia's disbanded FARC guerrillas said Sunday it was ready to start peace talks with the government next month in an apparent boost for leftist President Gustavo Petro's quest for "total peace."