Description: Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) has announced a unilateral armed strike in the Choco department. The armed strike according to ELN officials was a response to recent accusations against Colombia’s government to have collaborated with right – wing militias and various rebel leaders whose goal was to subdue ELN’s armed efforts in the Choco and Catatumbo regions. ELN has estimated 6,000 fighters in the northeastern parts of the country and fights dissolved FARC militants and the Colombian military for prevalence in the gold – rich region which also has the most convenient drug trafficking routes.
Impact: With the failed negotiations between the Colombian government and the ELN, the armed conflict has so far caused massive migration crisis in the country. Colombia’s military has continuously failed to undermine ELN’s armed efforts as multiple peace negotiations has so far failed. The Colombian President Gustavo Petro has also stated that drug cartels in the region were targeting him as he also faced political turbulations within his own government. In case near future negotiation efforts aren’t made, the armed conflict could spiral out of control and cause severe security, political and humanitarian crisis in Colombia.