In Colombia, guerrillas surrendered their weapons in preparation for peace talks with the government
About 100 members of the Colombian guerrilla group National Coordinating Committee of the Bolivarian Army (CNEB) surrendered their weapons as part of the peace process with the government of President Gustavo Petro.
The ceremony took place in the jungles of southern Colombia. This marked the first stage of reintegrating former combatants into civilian life in a specially designated resettlement zone.
This step is seen as one of the greatest achievements of the “total peace” policy promoted by President Gustavo Petro.
The program involves negotiations with illegal armed groups and their gradual demilitarization.
According to the AP, the group’s leader, Giovanni Andrés Rojas, who is in custody on suspicion of drug trafficking, stated in a video address that the rebels are renouncing armed struggle.
The Colombian government established a mechanism the day before to monitor the temporary resettlement zone and suspended offensive military and police operations to facilitate the militants’ relocation.
According to analysts’ estimates, there are currently about 27,000 members of illegal armed groups operating in Colombia, so the current weapons handover is only part of a broader peace process.
This was reported by El Mundo.
As a reminder, the first round of the presidential election is underway in Colombia, accompanied by a deep divide in society due to the candidates’ differing views on the future of the peace process.
As a reminder, Colombia is maintaining a cautious stance amid threats from the United States.
The Colombian president also responded sharply to Trump.
