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Colombian soldiers deployed to quell deadly rebel violence Rebel feud displaces more than 30,000 in northern Colombia
(about 4 hours later)
The ELN rebel group is a deadly and powerful presence in the regionThe ELN rebel group is a deadly and powerful presence in the region
The first group of a planned 5,000 soldiers have arrived in the north-east of Colombia, where at least 80 people have been killed over recent days amid a surge in rebel violence. More than 32,000 people have fled the northern Colombian region of Catatumbo where two rival rebel groups are engaged in a bloody battle.
A state of emergency has been declared in the Catatumbo region after thousands of residents fled fighting between rebels from the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc). At least 80 people have been killed over recent days amid the surge in fighting between rebels from the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc).
One official government agency said it had received reports of ELN rebels going house-to-house and killing those suspected of ties with rival groups.One official government agency said it had received reports of ELN rebels going house-to-house and killing those suspected of ties with rival groups.
President Gustavo Petro said on Tuesday that the state "had failed" to contain the violence but it would learn from that failure. The government has declared a state of emergency and the first of a planned deployment of 5,000 soldiers have arrived in the area.
Figures from the Ombudsman's office suggest 20,000 people have been forced to flee. President Gustavo Petro said on Tuesday that the state "had failed" to contain the violence but that it would learn from that failure.
His government has reactivated arrest warrants for 31 top commanders of the ELN, which had been suspended while the rebel group held peace talks with the government.
Last week, President Petro suspended the talks for a second time in less than a year due to the violence in Catatumbo.
The fighting has been so fierce that 32,000 people have fled their homes, according to figures provided by the Ombudsman's office on Tuesday.
Many have sought refuge in schools and sports stadiums which have been converted into impromptu shelters.Many have sought refuge in schools and sports stadiums which have been converted into impromptu shelters.
Thousands of people have sought shelter in a sports stadium in the city of CúcutaThousands of people have sought shelter in a sports stadium in the city of Cúcuta
Investigative news programme Noticias Uno, external said it had seen a military intelligence report which suggested that the surge in violence between the two rival groups had been triggered by "the loss of a multi-million-dollar cocaine shipment in November 2024".Investigative news programme Noticias Uno, external said it had seen a military intelligence report which suggested that the surge in violence between the two rival groups had been triggered by "the loss of a multi-million-dollar cocaine shipment in November 2024".
According to the report, a member of the Farc dissident group known as Frente 33 came to an agreement with their rivals from the ELN to "not interfere" with each other's cocaine production and shipments.According to the report, a member of the Farc dissident group known as Frente 33 came to an agreement with their rivals from the ELN to "not interfere" with each other's cocaine production and shipments.
Both the ELN and the remnants of the Farc rebel group which remained active after the main guerrilla group signed a peace agreement in 2016 are heavily involved in the drugs trade.Both the ELN and the remnants of the Farc rebel group which remained active after the main guerrilla group signed a peace agreement in 2016 are heavily involved in the drugs trade.
The pact between the two groups seems to have broken down over the "lost" cocaine shipment, the intelligence report suggests.The pact between the two groups seems to have broken down over the "lost" cocaine shipment, the intelligence report suggests.
Although it is not clear which "lost" stash the report is referring to, Colombian media have pointed out that in December last year counter-narcotics agents in the Dominican Republic seized 9.5 tonnes of cocaine which they said had originated in Catatumbo.Although it is not clear which "lost" stash the report is referring to, Colombian media have pointed out that in December last year counter-narcotics agents in the Dominican Republic seized 9.5 tonnes of cocaine which they said had originated in Catatumbo.
The mountainous region, on Colombia's north-eastern border with Venezuela, is a hotspot for cocaine production and trafficking.The mountainous region, on Colombia's north-eastern border with Venezuela, is a hotspot for cocaine production and trafficking.
President Petro, who was a member of a left-wing rebel group in his youth, said this week that "what happened in Catatumbo is yet another example of a shift from insurgent guerrillas to narco-armed organisations".President Petro, who was a member of a left-wing rebel group in his youth, said this week that "what happened in Catatumbo is yet another example of a shift from insurgent guerrillas to narco-armed organisations".
He also referred to the ELN as a "mafia".He also referred to the ELN as a "mafia".
Petro campaigned on a promise to bring "total peace" to Colombia but last week he suspended peace talks with the ELN for a second time in less than a year due to the violence in Catatumbo. Petro campaigned on a promise to bring "total peace" to Colombia but last week he said that "the ELN has no will for peace".
"The ELN has no will for peace," he said at the time.