“The Colombian guerrilla group National Liberation Army (ELN) in the Catatumbo region is determined to repel the government’s counteroffensive in the northeast of the country and has warned that years of ‘total peace’ risk turning into ‘total war.’

In a rare interview conducted in a secret mountain location near the Venezuelan border, in one of the areas with the highest concentration of drug crops in the country, two ELN commanders told AFP news agency that they would not hesitate to fight the 10,000 regular army soldiers deployed in the area to reinforce security—a move perceived by the ELN as a direct attack on their interests.

Despite attempts at dialogue and stability, the measures adopted by the government, they stated, could lead to an escalation of violence. ‘The massive presence of armed forces in this specific territory not only jeopardizes the peace agreements but also creates a climate of fear among local communities.’

Of Guevarist origin, the ELN has been waging war against the Colombian state since 1964 and has been involved since mid-January in an attack in Catatumbo against dissidents of the defunct FARC. According to official data, this conflict has caused at least 76 deaths and displaced 55,000 people. This is the first interview granted to the media by the ELN’s Northeastern War Front since the clashes began in the region.

The ongoing conflict, which has lasted for over a month, has affected at least 91,000 civilians. This is reported in the latest United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report, which raises particular concern about the displaced population, whose number has already exceeded 50,000.

The citizens forced to leave their homes have mainly moved to the cities of Cúcuta, Tibú, and Ocaña, seeking refuge in government-established shelters, hotels, or with acquaintances. In addition, OCHA reports that 27,381 people are ‘trapped’ in their homes or are experiencing ‘restrictions on mobility due to armed clashes.'”