The bloodiest clashes in recent months have occurred in the jungle region of Guaviare province, near the village of Barranco Colorado. A faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) involved in the fighting confirmed at least 52 guerrilla fighters had been killed.
Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez confirmed on social media that clashes had taken place in the area, but did not provide details on the death toll. He said the military had been deployed to the region to protect civilians. Reuters could not independently verify the 52 deaths reported by Farc.
The clashes occurred between a Farc dissident faction led by Néstor Gregorio Vera (alias Iván Mordisco) and another faction headed by Alexander Díaz Mendoza (alias Calarcá Córdoba). Both rejected the 2016 peace deal, which allowed around 13,000 Farc members to disarm.
The guerrilla group led by Díaz Mendoza is currently engaged in peace talks with President Gustavo Petro, but Vera's faction remains in conflict with the government after the government suspended a bilateral ceasefire in 2024. Last week, the largest Farc dissident group, the Central General Staff, announced a nationwide suspension of military operations against police forces from May 20 to June 10, but this did not include clashes with other armed groups.
Rebels from the National Liberation Army (ELN) have also declared a separate ceasefire ahead of the weekend elections. The armed conflict, which has lasted more than six decades, is primarily fueled by drug trafficking and illegal mining, and has killed more than 450,000 people and displaced millions.
