BOGOTA — Colombia’s National Liberation Army announced it would resume full combat operations Sunday, accusing armed forces of backing a Clan Gulf Clan paramilitary assault in Choco province that killed at least 22 civilians, collapsing a bilateral ceasefire that had held since January. President Petro cut short a visit to the Vatican and convened an emergency security session in Bogota.
A Ceasefire Shattered
The ELN issued a statement saying its fighters were “no longer bound by any agreement with a state that chooses paramilitarism over peace.” The Defense Ministry denied the accusation, saying the Riosucio killings were the work of independent irregular groups. The UN mission in Colombia called the assault a potential war crime and said its monitoring team was en route to the region. At least 4,000 residents have fled the area since dawn.
Diplomatic Fallout
The ceasefire collapse threatens to unravel months of diplomatic work brokered by Norway and Brazil. International mediators have called for an immediate return to the negotiating table. Colombia’s Catholic Church offered to host emergency peace talks in Quibdo. The ELN has not formally withdrawn from negotiations but says it will not discuss any new agreements until the paramilitary threat is addressed.
Paramilitary Expansion
Clan Gulf Clan — successor to the demobilized AUC death squads — has expanded its presence in Choco over the past two years, leveraging control of Pacific cocaine smuggling routes. Analysts say the group has been emboldened by signs of division within the Petro government’s security strategy. Congressional opposition leaders called on the government to declare a “state of internal disturbance” and deploy additional army battalions to the region.
Written by Diego Vargas, Latin America Correspondent