Residents of a region in northern Colombia affected by violence are preparing for more bloodshed as an armed conflict between rival groups has expanded to a major city, with some describing the situation as not seen since the 1990s.
Cúcuta, the city most affected, has a population of approximately 1 million and got a 48-hour curfew in an attempt to regain control following attacks by Colombia’s largest armed group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), on police stations and toll booths.
The ELN’s actions left several injured, and the Colombian army fought against the involved combatants. This wave of violence is adding to the failures of President Gustavo Petro to bring peace to Colombia through negotiations with armed groups, as over 122,000 residents now require urgent assistance.
The unrest began in the Catatumbo region in mid-January when the ELN engaged with the dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), resulting in casualties and displacement. Further fighting took place in the Amazon rainforest and this week in the Chocó region, with thousands placed under strict lockdown.
The displacement numbers for this year have already exceeded those from the entirety of last year, causing a growing sense of lost control that has not been seen in years.
The historical peace agreement between the Farc and Colombia in 2016 formally concluded six decades of war, but new armed groups have emerged and continued to cause conflict. Negotiations by Petro with the main armed factions have also been ineffective, with a significant increase in the number of armed factions in the country from 2022 to 2024.
Cúcuta’s proximity to the lawless Venezuelan border has transformed it into a hotbed of illicit activities, with 25 groups fighting for control of cocaine trafficking, contraband, and other criminal activities. This escalating violence has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, with concerns about limited access to water, healthcare, and dire living conditions for refugees.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/23/colombia-violence-eln-cucuta
