More than 80 killed following three days of guerrilla violence in northern Colombia

Sub: IR

Sec: Msc

Context:

A recent outbreak of guerrilla violence in Colombia has left over 80 people dead in just three days. This marks a significant setback in the country’s ongoing peace process.
The clashes began in the Catatumbo region of Norte de Santander, near the Venezuelan border.

Background:

The violence involves clashes between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and a rival group composed of ex-members of the disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
FARC had disarmed in 2017 following a 2016 peace deal, but some members continued fighting.
Violence is fuelled by competition over resources and drug trafficking routes. Colombia remains the world’s leading cocaine producer.
The ELN had recently clashed with the Gulf Clan, the largest drug cartel in Colombia.

Who are FARC?

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc, after the initials in Spanish) are Colombia’s largest rebel group.
They were founded in 1964 as the armed wing of the Communist Party and follow a Marxist-Leninist ideology.
Their main founders were small farmers and land workers who had banded together to fight against the staggering levels of inequality in Colombia at the time.
While the Farc have some urban groups, they have always been an overwhelmingly rural guerrilla organisation.

Colombia:

Colombia is a country in the northwest of the continent of South America.
Colombia is bordered to the northwest by Panama, to the east by Venezuela and Brazil, and to the south by Ecuador and Peru.