Description: The Colombian government faces severe uptick in violence as they have stopped the peace talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN). The ELN had several clashes with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in the Catatumbo region, near Colombia’s border with Venezuela, which is rich with coca leaf plantations. Colombia’s government had solved the problem with FARC by the signing of the peace deal in 2016, however, the internal conflict between the ELN and FARC over drug distribution has inflated the levels of violence and instability.
Impact: Colombia’s constant war against narcoterrorism has significantly raised the level of instability in the country with the conflict potentially spreading on larger parts of the country. The Colombian government should reengage in negotiation talks as resurgence of violence could stem a larger internal security and humanitarian crisis. The ELN’s demands of being recognized as a rebel organization at this period of time seem unrealistic, however, by intensifying their armed conflict with FARC, the ELN could have the potential upper hand if and whether the Colombian government reignites peace negotiations.