Colombia to Resume Peace Talks with ECG After Temporary Suspension

Colombia’s Government Announces Resumption of Peace Talks with Gulf Clan

The Colombian government has announced that it will resume peace talks with the Gulf Clan, also known as the Gaitanist Self-Defence Forces (ECG), after a temporary suspension was lifted. The decision comes following a joint statement from both parties, which stated that they had “overcome” any hurdles to the talks.

The talks were paused earlier this month after the Gulf Clan expressed concern about a recent deal with the United States. The US had pressured Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro to crack down on drug cartels, and one of the targets was Chiquito Malo, the leader of the Gulf Clan. However, the parties have now agreed to continue the talks.

The negotiations will be mediated by the Catholic Church and the governments of Qatar, Spain, Norway, and Switzerland. The Gulf Clan is considered one of Colombia’s largest cartels, with approximately 9,000 fighters. It was designated a “foreign terrorist organisation” by the US in December.

Colombia has been engaged in an ongoing internal conflict for six decades, involving various armed groups, including criminal networks, left-wing rebels, government forces, and right-wing paramilitaries. The country’s president, Gustavo Petro, has taken a different approach to addressing the conflict, bringing armed groups and criminal networks to the table for negotiations under a programme called “Total Peace”.

The peace talks have faced setbacks in recent months, including a suspension of talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN) following an outbreak of violence near the border with Venezuela. The Colombian government has also faced pressure from the right to assure justice is carried out on behalf of victims of drug trafficking.

The resumption of peace talks marks an important development in Colombia’s efforts to address its ongoing internal conflict, which will be a major election issue in May when the country chooses a new president.

Source: Al Jazeera