According to Colombia’s Ministry of Defense, 742 civilians have been evacuated from the country’s Catatumbo region, located in the northeastern department of Norte de Santander on the border with Venezuela, as conflict surges between a splinter faction of the now defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) known as the Estado Mayor Central (FARC-EMC) and members of the National Liberation Army (ELN).
According to Colombia’s Ministry of Defense, 742 civilians have been evacuated from the country’s Catatumbo region, located in the northeastern department of Norte de Santander on the border with Venezuela, as conflict surges between a splinter faction of the now defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) known as the Estado Mayor Central (FARC-EMC) and members of the National Liberation Army (ELN). [1]
The increase in violence is largely attributed to President Gustavo Petro’s decision to restart issuing arrest warrants for key figures within the ELN and suspend peace talks with the armed group in late January following an upsurge in violence between the ELN and the FARC-EMC [2] that led to the deaths of 80 civilians in Catatumbo. [3] A separate ceasefire with the FARC-EMC was previously cancelled in March 2024 following their failed attempt to forcibly recruit a minor belonging to an indigenous community, during which a community leader was killed and several others wounded. [4] As of February 21, an estimated 80,000 residents of Colombia’s north-east have been affected by the escalating conflict between the two armed groups, over 53,000 of whom have been forced to flee towards nearby urban centers such as Cúcuta, according to the United Nations. [5]
Since the start of the conflict, the Colombian military has launched a number of military operations targeting both the ELN and FARC-EMC, leading to the arrest of fighters and the seizure of war materiel used by the armed groups. On February 15, Colombia’s Ministry of Defense announced that one member of the ELN belonging to Estructura 33 had been killed during military operations, while two minors, likely forcibly recruited into the armed group, were rescued by soldiers. Following the encounter with the fighter, soldiers seized five long weapons, two handguns, 57 antipersonnel mines, ammunition of different calibers, and other war materiel and communication equipment. [6]
In a separate operation, members of Colombia’s army launched a military operation targeting a supply cache belonging to the Juan Fernando Porras Martínez Front of the ELN in Tibú, Norte de Santander with artillery support. Following the operation, abundant war materiel was seized by Colombian soldiers, including two drones used for “criminal intelligence activities against the Public Force and for planning terrorist actions”, 1,122 ammunition cartridges, 76 non-electric detonators, 39 units containing 13.162 kilograms of Pentolite Pentoflex [a highly explosive compound that is sensitive to heat and shock], an improvised grenade launcher, rifle magazines, mortar grenades, detonating cord, and a spare part for a 7.62mm machine gun. Furthermore, soldiers located and destroyed a minefield also located in Tibú. [7]
Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (@mindefensa), “Como ‘Carmito’ y su hijo Dairo Abril, 742 personas han sido evacuadas del Catatumbo en 66 vuelos, tras la ola de violencia desatada por el ELN.Vereda por vereda, casa por casa, este grupo criminal ha perseguido a campesinos, defensores de DD.HH y firmantes del Acuerdo de Paz para asesinarlos. Ante esta amenaza, nuestras @FuerzasMilColy @PoliciaColombiahan brindado asistencia humanitaria y desplegado operaciones militares para frenar su accionar delictivo.A las comunidades de este territorio les reiteramos: no están solas. #JuntosPorElCatatumbo”, X, February 23, 2025, post
“Colombia reactivates arrest orders for top rebels blamed for deadly violence in cocaine turf war”, Associated Press, January 22, 2025, https://apnews.com/article/colombia-rebels-cocaine-war-national-liberation-army-5d938cb6bf41884bb8f528ee8d69b964
“At least 80 people killed in northeast Colombia as peace talks fail, official says”, Associated Press, January 20, 2025, https://apnews.com/article/colombia-killed-eln-farc-kidnapped-9312219ca09e26fc03d18983fd245831
“Colombia suspends ceasefire following attack on Indigenous community”, ICT News, March 19, 2024, https://ictnews.org/news/colombia-suspends-ceasefire-following-attack-on-indigenous-community
“Colombia: Fleeing the thunder of violence in Catatumbo”, United Nations, February 21, 2025, https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1160401
Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (@mindefensa), “¡La Operación Catatumbo sigue dando resultados!Un integrante del grupo armado residual ‘Estructura 33’ fue muerto en desarrollo de operaciones militares por tropas del @COL_EJERCITOen zona rural del municipio de Tibú, Norte de Santander. Durante el combate también se logró la desvinculación de 2 menores de edad, que fueron entregados al @ICBFColombiapara el restablecimiento de sus derechos.Igualmente, se incautaron cinco armas largas y dos armas cortas, 57 minas antipersonal, munición de diferentes calibres, material de guerra, intendencia y equipos de comunicación pertenecientes a esta organización y el ELN.#JuntosPorElCatatumbo”, X, February 15, 2025, post
“Material de guerra y drones incautados al ELN en el Catatumbo”, Ejército Nacional de Colombia, February 27, 2025, https://www.ejercito.mil.co/material-de-guerra-y-drones-incautados-al-eln-en-el-catatumbo-631118/