The death toll from escalating violence between rival guerrilla groups in Colombia’s Catatumbo region has risen to 60, according to the country’s human rights office.
The clashes, involving the National Liberation Army, ELN, and dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, have forced thousands to flee their homes and thrown the region into chaos.
The Ombudsman’s Office reported that the latest wave of violence shattered a fragile truce between the two groups, both vying for control of the lucrative cocaine trade in the border area near Venezuela.
Among those killed are seven signatories of the 2016 peace treaty with FARC and Carmelo Guerrero, a prominent community leader and head of the Association for Peasant Unity in Catatumbo (Asuncat).
Local advocacy groups, including the Association of Mothers of Catatumbo for Peace, decried the renewed bloodshed, describing it as a devastating blow to families and communities.
“The bullets exchanged not only hurt those who hold the weapons but also tear apart the dreams of our communities,” the group said in a statement.
The violence has also led to food shortages, with vulnerable populations—such as children, the elderly, and pregnant women—bearing the brunt of the crisis.
The Ombudsman’s Office reported that at least 20 people, half of whom are women, have been kidnapped in the region.
The Colombian government suspended peace talks with the ELN on Friday, following accusations by President Gustavo Petro that the group had committed “war crimes.”
The ELN, in turn, blamed FARC for initiating the conflict, though FARC has not publicly responded to the claims.
In response to the unrest, the Colombian army announced the deployment of additional troops to the region on Saturday, aiming to stabilize the area and protect civilians.
President Petro, who has prioritized ending the country’s long-standing armed conflicts since his election in 2022, condemned the violence and reiterated his call for peace.
However, with trust eroding between the government and guerrilla factions, the path to a lasting resolution remains uncertain.