Colombia’s Comuneros del Sur rebel group, which has about 200 fighters, on April 5 began handing over explosive devices and signed other agreements with the Colombian government that could lead to the rebels’ eventual disarmament and reintegration. The rebel group recently broke away from the National Liberation Army (ELN). The deal came amid escalating paramilitary violence in multiple regions of Colombia, including in the Catatumbo and Arauca regions. What is the significance of the agreement between Colombia’s government and Comuneros del Sur? To what extent does it suggest President Gustavo Petro’s administration might make further progress on peace talks with other rebel groups? With about one year left in his term, how well is Petro’s “Total Peace” strategy working?
Kent Eaton, professor of politics at the University of California, Santa Cruz: ““Well into his third year as president, the fact that Petro’s ‘Total Peace’ strategy has so far only led to the demobilization of one rather small rebel group (the Comuneros del Sur) can be interpreted as a sign of failure. After all, there were only about 200 Comuneros, and they only operated in 10 municipalities in just one department (Nariño). Furthermore, the alignment of political views between them and Petro may also have facilitated this deal, which could easily unravel if the right returns to the presidency next year. The significance of the April 6 agreement, however, can be seen in its territorially tailored approach, which illustrates an important reality of the Colombian conflict. As Petro told the U.N. Security Council last year, Colombia doesn’t have a national conflict, but rather multiple regional…”
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