A first success was obtained in the peace negotiations between Colombia’s new left-wing government and the ELN guerrilla organization: an agreement was reached on the return of people displaced by the ELN to their regions of origin in the west of the country, said President Gustavo Petro yesterday (local time) in Dazuba, in northwest Colombia.
The former guerrilla fighter was elected in August as the South American country’s first left-wing head of state. Petro has set itself the goal of ending armed conflicts in Colombia. Almost two weeks ago, peace talks began with the ELN in Venezuela, which will be held alternately by Venezuela, Cuba and Norway.
The agreement now concluded on the return of the displaced mainly affects members of indigenous ethnic groups. Some of them have occupied several parks in the capital Bogotá in protest actions since 2020, and there have also been violent clashes with the police.