Colombia Ceasefire: FARC Dissidents and ELN Agree to 30-Day Truce

BOGOTÁ — Colombia’s government reached a 30-day bilateral ceasefire agreement with multiple FARC dissident factions and the ELN rebels, Argentine-mediated talks confirmed Tuesday. The truce, the first such agreement since the 2016 peace deal, covers the June 17 presidential runoff and includes humanitarian corridors for 1.2 million civilians in conflict zones.

The GC4-FARC dissident group, operating largely along the Venezuela border, signed separately after three days of negotiations in Cúcuta. The EMC-FARC and the EPL also agreed to pause operations. The ELN, which called a three-day ceasefire for the first-round election, extended its commitment for the full 30-day window — a significant departure from its usual pattern.

The Humanitarian Exchange Agreement includes a 30-kilometer no-artillery zone around schools and hospitals across Meta, Caquetá, and Nariño departments. The ICRC will monitor compliance from 11 new forward operating bases. A Petro administration official told reporters the ceasefire could become permanent if violations remain below 3% during the window.

President Gustavo Petro cautioned that the military high command was not consulted during the negotiations and that rank-and-file commanders may not honor the truce on the ground. “The armed forces have their own logic,” Petro said. “This ceasefire exists on paper. On the battlefield, it is still being tested.” At least four violations were reported in the first 36 hours — suspected EMC-FARC positions near San José del Guaviare ignoring the agreement.

The ceasefire agreement also includes a prisoner release component: 420 political prisoners on both sides will be freed before June 10. Venezuela has agreed to accept the first 60, marking the first bilateral humanitarian exchange between Colombia and Venezuela since the 2016 peace accords.

International reactions have been cautious. The United States, which maintains FARC and ELN as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, said it would monitor the agreement “without prejudging” its terrorist designations — leaving open the possibility of targeted sanctions against ceasefire violators. Brazil and Argentina, who brokered the mediation track, have promised $180 million in humanitarian aid tied to ceasefire compliance.

Colombia’s June 17 presidential runoff is between Finance Minister Ricardo Bonilla and environmental lawyer Claudia García, with the ceasefire framing the final stretch of the campaign. García has called for international monitoring of the truce; Bonilla’s team said the agreement demonstrates government capacity to deliver peace. Polls show 58% of Colombians support the ceasefire as a step toward broader peace negotiations.

The ceasefire window expires July 26, 2026. The GC4-FARC, EMC-FARC, ELN, and EPL have all reserved the right to resume operations if the government fails to deliver on the promised humanitarian corridor expansion. Analysts at the International Crisis Group say the real test comes not at the signing ceremony but in the first 72 hours of implementation.

Diego Vargas · Breaking News Correspondent ·
Covering Latin America · mhook.net