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Colombia's ELN Rebels Declare a Unilateral Ceasefire Ahead of Key Congressional Elections
The ELN will halt attacks on military and electoral officials to enable free voting; an electoral watchdog warns 11% of municipalities face extreme violence risk.
- On Monday, the National Liberation Army declared a unilateral ceasefire ahead of March 8, 2026, Colombia's congressional elections to fill more than 300 seats.
- Longstanding accusations against the ELN include attacking politicians and controlling municipal governments to capture funds, amid the breakdown of peace talks last year after attacks displaced over 50,000 people.
- Earlier this month, Indigenous Sen. Aida Quilcue was kidnapped in southwest Cauca and released unharmed; two bodyguards of Sen. Jairo Castellanos were killed when ELN fired on his caravan, and last year, conservative presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe was shot and died two months later.
- The group said it will stop attacks on military and electoral authorities to allow people to vote `in liberty`, while President Gustavo Petro faces a critical test to secure a majority for the Historical Pact.
- The Movement for Electoral Observation said earlier this month that 11% of municipalities face an `extreme risk` of election violence, while the ELN denied financing campaigns `as drug traffickers do`.
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They also mentioned that the ELN is not an electoral organization that does not participate with candidates, nor does it fund campaigns.
The ELN announced a unilateral cease-fire for the elections that begin on March 8 with legislative and inter-party consultations. It has done so, he says, in the electoral processes of the last four governments. According to the guerrillas, there is a “structural crisis” that the election days will only “continue to recycle without resorting to substantive solutions.” In this sense, the guerrilla adds, it proposes a “National Agreement” that wil…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left4Leaning Right0Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Center
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources are Center
56% Center
L 44%
C 56%
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