Search for your article of interest

Security & Public

Total Peace: How many steps forward and how many steps back?

Being December, this month normally has diminished expectations for progress on any issue. Traditionally, the political and judicial branches shut down around the 15th and nothing much happens until after “Reyes” the holiday corresponding to the Epiphany in Anglo-Saxon countries and which Colombia celebrates on the Monday closest to January 6th. On December 12th, the government and the ELN released a brief press release with limited, mostly procedural, agreements and shut down for the holidays. Then things really started to happen.

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023
Usefulness:

President Petro announces bilateral ceasefire with 5 illegal armed organizations

As a gift to Colombians to start the New Year, President Gustavo Petro announced a six-month bilateral ceasefire with five major combatants from across the political spectrum (if one believes that politics really has anything to do with the current combatants). History does not suggest this declaration will mean very much in practical terms but we must be optimistic.

Sunday, January 1st, 2023
Usefulness:

Government and ELN wrap up first phase of talks

The delegations of the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) concluded the first cycle of peace talks. Here are the details.

Tuesday, December 13th, 2022
Usefulness:

ELN peace talks officially underway in Caracas

In a huge sunlight meeting room, in the Hotel Humboldt, high above Caracas, peace talks with the ELN kicked off on the 21st of November. The parties even announced initial, albeit mostly symbolic, agreements. Colombians celebrate small steps but the country has a long way to go.

Monday, November 28th, 2022
Usefulness:

Total Peace: October 2022 What to do about the dissidents

The so-called FARC dissidents cause headaches for President Gustavo Petro’s “Total Peace” plan and this month’s debate over enabling legislation brought the issues to the fore, unfortunately without permanent resolution. The ELN process moved a small step and land reform took a giant leap.

Monday, October 31st, 2022
Usefulness:

Government and ELN to reestablish talks

President Gustavo Petro and the ELN confirmed the reestablishment of peace talks.

Tuesday, October 11th, 2022
Usefulness:

Total peace

You are probably reading this on October 4th, 2022, less than two months after Gustavo Petro was sworn in as Colombia’s president. Amongst other broad commitments he said “I will work to achieve true and definitive peace.” Specifically, he announced that he would immediately begin negotiations with the ELN. Shortly after that, Petro began talking about a “Total Peace”, incorporating not only the ELN but the narcos who continue to terrorize parts of the country.

Monday, October 3rd, 2022
Usefulness:

Increasing thefts at La Cira Infantas

Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC) reported a serious situation in La Cira Infantas field.

Thursday, June 9th, 2022
Usefulness:
The pandemic – or at least the panic – ends in Colombia

The pandemic – or at least the panic – ends in Colombia

On May 1st2021, the Colombian government lifted most restrictions related to Covid-19. It also stopped issuing daily statistical bulletins. Two years and two months after it began, the pandemic seems to be over in Colombia. We assume (hope) that this will, therefore, be our last publication of these statistics and we only do so because they show the complete course of the disease in Colombia.

Monday, May 9th, 2022
Usefulness:

ELN armed strike

ELN developed a national armed strike.

Monday, February 28th, 2022
Usefulness: