Following an armed strike by the Clan Úsuga paramilitary group last week, the Farc have demanded the government do more to combat these groups, and say that the issue is stalling process in Havana.
With the announcement of formal peace talks between the ELN and the Colombian government, we expect to see a qualitative shift in security results starting next week. So this graph will be our new ‘benchmark’.
As one of his last actions at his post, the Attorney General Eduardo Montealegre has called on judges in Bogotá’s Paloquemao Judicial Complex to hold an audience to bring charges against the the ELN leaders for systematic attacks on oil infrastructure and the resulting environmental damage.
Representatives of the government and the ELN guerrilla have officially announced a start to talks after the latest round of informal discussions which took place in Caracas. The parties agreed to a six point agenda which will be similar to talks with the Farc, but move at its own pace and separately.
The deadline set in September 2015 by the government and Farc to sign a final peace agreement – March 23rd — passed this week without a full or even partial accord, but the government said the date was successful in that it sped up the process.
Security incidents jumped sharply last week but as has been the case lately, the results felt worse qualitatively than quantitatively.
President Juan Manuel Santos dispatched his brother Enrique Santos to Havana after differences on the final cease fire and the process to physically consolidate guerrillas in the post-conflict transition stalled the negotiating process.
Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) says that a group of community members protesting a new hiring system –- an alternative to the notorious Community Action Committees (JACs) –- have turned violent and forced contingency measures at the Coveñas port.
The deadline agreed to back in September 2015 of March 23rd is coming up quick, and President Juan Manuel Santos has been insisting that it be met, but has also recently sought to find some wiggle room as a final agreement by that date looks unlikely.
A recent Gallup poll found that Colombians have a more pessimistic view of President Juan Manuel Santos and the peace process, a serious obstacle if the government hopes to approve an eventual agreement in a public referendum.
2026, Hydrocarbons Colombia, All Rights Reserved.
