Colombian insurgents kill dozens, trigger mass evacuations

Unrest continues in northeast Colombia after the guerrilla insurgency group National Liberation Army attacked several towns in the Catatumbo region over the weekend. Insurgents killed over 80 people and injured at least 20 more, according to multiple reports citing officials. The conflict displaced over 11,000 people within mere days, according to Defensoría del Pueblo, the government’s human rights agency. Colombian President Gustavo Petro described the group’s actions as war crimes on Friday and ended the latest round of peace talks with the insurgents.

What triggered the violence? Liberation insurgents continually clash with members of a former insurgent group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, for control of a specific border region of coca plantations. The Revolutionary Armed Forces technically disbanded in 2016 after signing a peace agreement with the Colombian government, despite ongoing clashes with Liberation insurgents. Dozens of locals died in the crossfire during attacks by the group in recent days. Insurgents also kidnapped 20 people on Thursday and over a dozen remain captive, according to a Sunday report from the advocacy group the Washington Office on Latin America.

How is the government responding? Evacuated citizens are the military’s top priority, according to Defense Minister Iván Velásquez. Military and police will work to destabilize the region after everyone at risk has been evacuated, he said Sunday. Footage released throughout the weekend showed locals evacuating in military helicopters. Neighboring governments over the weekend sent humanitarian aid to shelters in Tibú and Ocaña now housing thousands of displaced people. The North Santander government has already delivered hundreds of food and toiletry packs to refugees along with beds and children's items, according to a Monday post.

Dig deeper: Read Onize Oduah’s report on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia breaking its peace agreement with the government in 2019.