- ELN guerrillas prepare for new military conflict as Colombia’s president vows offensive.
- The ELN claims its fight against the state is justified by economic and political inequality.
- Security analysts believe armed groups in Colombia have strengthened over recent years.
Conflict on the Horizon
In a remote Pacific department of Chocó, deep within Colombian jungles, members of the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group are preparing for a potential return to war. Camouflaged and armed, they set up camp under the dense canopy, hidden from aerial surveillance.
As Colombia’s president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, prepares to take office with plans to resume military engagements against rebels, the ELN is readying itself for combat. The commander of the Western War Front, known only by his moniker Yerson, emphasizes that if given orders from the ELN leadership, they will launch attacks both in cities and rural areas.
The Ideological Battle
Founded on principles of Marxist-Leninism, Che Guevara’s foco theory, and Liberation theology, the ELN was one of Colombia's major guerrilla groups. Despite the Farc's demobilization after a peace deal in 2016, the ELN remains committed to achieving its goals through political and economic transformation before laying down arms.
Current Challenges and Strengths
The ELN operates with approximately 6,300 members across Colombia and Venezuela. In Chocó, the group has about 60 fighters, including an equal number of men and women from indigenous and Afro-Colombian backgrounds. Yerson explains that the majority join out of necessity due to limited economic opportunities.
The ELN’s primary sources of income are illegal gold mining and logging, alongside kidnappings for ransom. The group remains committed to continuing their struggle for 62 years, believing that only through sustained conflict can they achieve lasting change.
Source: The Guardian
Guardian News World
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