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LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

January 22, 2026

Could the ELN Make a Deal With a New Government?

The National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group said earlier this month that it is interested in striking an agreement with Colombia’s government after elections later this year. // File Photo: MAUROOSO via Adobe Stock.

Q

  • Colombia’s National Liberation Army, or ELN, rebel group on Jan. 12 called for a “national accord” with the country’s next government amid the increased prospect of attacks from Colombian and U.S. forces, the Associated Press reported. The ELN—which exercises varying degrees of control throughout Colombia—expressed interest in negotiating with the government that takes office after the May general election on agreements for addressing poverty, environmental protection and drug trafficking. What feasible prospects exist for a significant agreement between the ELN and Colombia’s government later this year? What explains Colombian rebel groups’ growing territorial presence in Colombia in recent years? How will paramilitary group activities likely shape Colombia’s presidential election campaign?

A

Elizabeth Dickinson, deputy director for Latin America at Crisis Group in Bogotá: “Colombia’s largest remaining left-wing insurgency, the National Liberation Army (ELN), is moving swiftly to secure its interests following U.S. military operations in Venezuela. For more than a decade, the group has enjoyed safe haven and political cover from Caracas, and the ELN had vowed to defend the government of Nicolás Maduro. Uncertain who to trust and what protection they may enjoy from interim President Delcy Rodríguez, the ELN is positioning itself both tactically and ideologically to survive the sudden changes in Venezuela. Most pointedly, the group has decided to fully abandon…”

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The Inter-American Dialogue publishes the Latin America Advisor every business day for a distinguished membership of informed corporate leaders, scholars, and government officials invested in Latin America’s development and future. The Advisor‘s highly regarded Q&A section covers questions submitted by subscribers themselves. Commentators regularly include heads of state, business leaders, diplomats, economists, analysts, and thought leaders from around the world. Many of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies subscribe to the Advisor. To subscribe, click here. For terms and conditions, click here. For more information, contact Gene Kuleta, editor of the Advisor, at gkuleta@thedialogue.org.
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board of advisors

Diego Arria
Director,
Columbus Group

Merike Blofield
Professor of Political Science,
University of Hamburg

Devry Boughner Vorwerk
CEO,
DevryBV Sustainable Strategies

Joyce Chang
Global Head of Research,
J.P. Morgan

Marlene Fernández
Corporate Vice President for Gov’t Relations,
Arcos Dorados (McDonald’s)

Peter Hakim
President Emeritus,
Inter-American Dialogue

Donna Hrinak
Director,
Adtalem Global Education

Jon E. Huenemann
Council Member,
GLG Inc.

James R. Jones
Chairman,
Monarch Global Strategies

Craig Kelly
Senior Director,
Int’l Gov’t Relations,
Exxon Mobil

Barbara Kotschwar
Professor of Political Economy,
Georgetown University

John Maisto
Director,
US Education Finance Group

Nicolas Mariscal
Chairman,
Grupo Marhnos

Thomas F. McLarty III
Chairman,
McLarty Associates

Beatrice Rangel
Director,
AMLA Consulting

Ernesto Revilla
Head of Latin American Economics, Citi

Gustavo Roosen
President,
IESA

Andrés Rozental
President, Rozental &
Asociados

Shelly Shetty
Managing Director,
Sovereigns, Fitch

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