Long-sought six-month ceasefire starts in Colombia with ELN rebels

Record ID: 1736319

  • Title: Long-sought six-month ceasefire starts in Colombia with ELN rebels
  • Date: 3rd August 2023
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA, GUSTAVO PETRO, SAYING: "It seems to me that those who emerged in (year) 1964 as rebels, in other generations, today should be here, on the side of life, on the side of their people, on the side of transformations. It is time, so welcome to peace. Thank you, you’ve been so kind.”
  • Embargoed: 17th August 2023 23:10
  • Keywords: Ceasefire Colombia ELN Peace
  • Location: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
  • City: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
  • Country: Colombia
  • Topics: South America / Central America,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA004205303082023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A six-month ceasefire between Colombia's government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group began on Thursday (August 3), representing the most solid progress to date for President Gustavo Petro's ambitious plans to end the country's 60-year conflict.
    The ceasefire, set to run until the end of January 2024, is the product of ongoing peace talks between the ELN and the government, which restarted last year in hopes of ending the group's part in the conflict that has killed at least 450,000 people.
    The United Nations Secretary-General congratulated the two sides on the ceasefire in a statement on Thursday, hailing its potential to reduce civilian suffering. The U.N. Verification Mission in Colombia will monitor the effort under a mandate from the Security Council.
    The ELN negotiations have advanced further than any of Petro's other peace-building efforts.
    (Production: Herbert Villarraga, Gloria Lopez)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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