politics
Colombia on the brink: ELN guerrilla group prepares for return to war
As Abelardo de la Espriella takes office as president vowing a new military offensive, the country’s last leftwing rebels are getting ready to fight back
TL;DR
- The ELN, Colombia's last guerrilla group, is preparing for a new phase of conflict following President Abelardo de la Espriella's vow to end peace talks and launch a military offensive.
- ELN commander Yerson stated the group is ready for offensive actions nationally and in cities, criticizing the current political system for superficial reforms.
- The ELN's origins are rooted in Marxism-Leninism, Che Guevara's foco theory, and Liberation theology, fighting against land inequality and exclusionary politics.
- The group views the demobilization of Farc in exchange for 'nothing' as a failure and criticizes subsequent presidents for not fully implementing peace deals.
- President-elect De la Espriella, a former lawyer for rightwing paramilitaries, plans to deepen security cooperation with the US and build mega-prisons.
- Security analysts estimate the ELN has around 6,300 members, with fighters and support spread across Colombia and Venezuela.
- The ELN finances itself through taxation of commercial entities in its controlled territories, including illegal gold mining and logging, and kidnappings.
- The ELN denies direct involvement in drug trafficking but acknowledges taxing the business, a distinction the US may ignore.
- Yerson asserted that the ELN is on the 'right side of history' and that armed struggle remains the only path to achieving gains for the people.