Al Jazeera exclusive interview with rebel FARC faction in Colombia

FARC dissident factions in Colombia’s Catatumbo region have told Al Jazeera they have returned to armed struggle after concluding that the 2016 peace accord failed to deliver promised security reforms and economic opportunities. Speaking exclusively to the broadcaster, commanders of the self-styled Estado Mayor Central (EMC) faction insist their renewed military campaign is a direct response to what they describe as the Colombian government’s broken promises on rural development, coca crop substitution and security guarantees for former fighters. The region, long a stronghold of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), has seen a resurgence of violence since the peace deal collapsed under political and logistical strain, with dissident groups now competing for control of coca-growing areas and smuggling corridors into Venezuela.

The resurgence of armed activity by FARC dissidents in Catatumbo is not an isolated phenomenon but part of a broader pattern across Colombia. The EMC and other factions such as the Segunda Marquetalia have expanded their influence in rural areas where state presence remains weak, exploiting the vacuum left by limited state investment and ongoing disputes over land reform. Recent reporting indicates that clashes between dissident groups and rival armed factions have surged, with civilian casualties rising in municipalities like Tibú and El Tarra. Earlier this year, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia documented a 25% increase in violent incidents in Catatumbo compared to 2022, attributing much of the instability to competition over drug trafficking routes and illegal mining operations.

Analysts warn that the revival of armed conflict threatens not only local communities but also Colombia’s broader peace process. President Gustavo Petro, the country’s first leftist leader, has sought to negotiate with armed groups through his “Total Peace” policy, offering legal incentives for disarmament. However, dissident factions accuse the government of inconsistency, citing continued military operations and delays in implementing rural reforms. In April, Petro’s administration suspended peace talks with the EMC after the group launched attacks on security forces in Norte de Santander, escalating tensions just as dialogue had shown tentative progress.

The humanitarian toll is mounting. Over 12,000 people were displaced in Catatumbo during the first half of 2024 alone, according to Colombia’s Human Rights Ombudsman, amid reports of forced recruitment, extortion and targeted killings. International observers, including the International Crisis Group, have urged both sides to return to negotiations, emphasizing that without genuine socio-economic transformation and security guarantees, Catatumbo—and Colombia’s peace—remain at risk. The Al Jazeera interview offers a rare glimpse into the fractured loyalties and hardened resolve of the dissident leadership, underscoring that the path to lasting peace has never been more fragile.