Colombian special forces have entered a stronghold of armed groups near the border with Venezuela, in an effort to reassert government control in the conflict-torn region. The mountainous region of Catatumbo in northeastern Colombia is at the centre of a bloody battle between armed groups trying to control the area. And Colombian special forces have been deployed to the area, according to AFP
Fighting escalates
Located on Colombia’s border with Venezuela, the Catatumbo region has a population of about 300,000 and accounts for 15% of Colombia’s total coca production. Security officials say the conflict there has been between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and its rival FARC-EMC, the remnants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
The FARC was founded in 1964 and agreed to disarm in 2016 after signing a historic peace deal with the Colombian government to end Latin America’s longest-running armed conflict. While about 11,000 FARC members laid down their weapons in 2016, a small number continue to hang on in some parts of Colombia. The ELN, also founded in 1964, now has about 6,000 fighters. AFP quoted experts as saying that the ELN’s leadership in Catatumbo is facing fierce competition from the FARC-EMC, which is gaining influence.
The FARC-EMC and ELN have long fought for control of the Catatumbo region and its lucrative drug trafficking routes, before reaching a truce. However, violence in the area escalated last week when ELN members attacked civilians, accusing them of collaborating with the FARC-EMC.
AP reported that gunmen stormed several houses and dragged people out, before executing the victims at close range. In just six days, at least 100 people have died in violence in the three cities of Tibu, Ocaña and Cúcuta. The UN estimates that more than 20,000 people have been forced to flee, about 30 have been kidnapped and 1,000 are trapped in their homes due to the threat of violence.
