Peace Talks “Practically Closed” After Deadly Attack on Colombian Military Base

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has issued a stark warning, stating that an attack on a military base in eastern Colombia has “practically closed” peace talks with the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group, Al Jazeera reports.

The attack, which took place earlier Tuesday in Puerto Jordan, Arauca province, saw the ELN launch rockets from a truck packed with explosives, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers and injuries to at least 21 others. The military has described the incident as the most serious attack since a bilateral ceasefire between the government and the ELN ended in August.

“This is an attack that practically closes a peace process, with blood,” President Petro declared during a ceremony in Bogota. He directly blamed the ELN for the deadly assault.

The incident marks a significant setback in Petro’s efforts to achieve “total peace” in Colombia, a nation plagued by six decades of armed conflict that has claimed over 450,000 lives. Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president, had restarted peace talks with the ELN in late 2022.

However, the talks have faced numerous challenges, with the ELN continuing to engage in activities such as kidnappings and taxing civilians in areas under their control. Further complicating the situation, the ELN has expressed displeasure with the government’s decision to initiate separate talks with a splinter ELN unit in the southwest of the country.

Following the expiration of the ceasefire in August, Defence Minister Ivan Velasquez announced the resumption of military operations against the ELN.

The ELN has accused the government of failing to uphold agreements made during prior rounds of peace talks and is demanding their removal from the list of organized armed groups.