A Colombian government delegation immediately resumed peace dialogue with National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas on Monday after the rebels condemned the new actions. Responsible governors face a “serious crisis.”
President Gustavo Petro’s office has said it will resume peace talks with the ELN by the end of 2022 to end a decades-long civil war that has left more than 450,000 people dead and has included negotiations with other guerrillas and temporary support for criminal gangs.
A Colombian government statement said it “invites the ELN delegation to a constructive dialogue to address the difficulties and critical situation facing the city of Mesa and to hold bilateral consultations on the transition and resumption of the dialogue cycle in the city of Mesa.”
The rebels had previously said they had fallen into a “serious crisis due to government responsibility” during peace treaty negotiations, but were confident that the base would be turned back into a medical facility once the Petroleum Authority made amends.
Mexico, Norway, Venezuela, Cuba, Brazil and Chile have guaranteed repeated declarations of interest in the negotiations, and the parties have not made more specific commitments regarding the participation of private sector entities in the negotiations.
The ELN is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union and has more than 6,100 soldiers, including 3,300 fighters, making it a source of security.
The ELN’s previous dealings with the government have led to accusations of security financing, extortion, drug trafficking and illegal mining, and analysts have accused it of not moving forward with its radical stance, providing secret documents and evidence from criminal investigations into the case.
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