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Nowhere to turn for the ELN in Colombia?

Last week peace talks with the country’s second largest rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN) were suspended after attacks by the group in the north of the country. Which way to turn? Español

By Kristian Herbolzheimer
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CapturaXCX comandante Uriel foto Kevin Arias_0.jpg
CapturaXCX comandante Uriel foto Kevin Arias_0.jpg

A member of the ELN, known as Commander Uriel, photographed in Colombia in January 2018. Photo: Kevin Arias, ¡PACIFISTA! All rights reserved.

Peace negotiations with the ELN follow a peace agreement signed in 2016 with the country’s largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), for which President Santos was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 

Both the Colombian Government and the ELN are facing several dilemmas. In both the peace negotiations with the FARC, and now with the ELN, President Santos has never been able to create the necessary ‘magic momentum’ in public support. Decades of violence and mistrust have left scars and a divided society.

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