Key facts
- Colombia's ELN rebel group declared a unilateral ceasefire from June 20-23.
- The ceasefire is intended to allow citizens to vote freely in the upcoming presidential election on June 21.
Colombia's largest remaining rebel group, the ELN, announced a unilateral ceasefire from June 20-23, ahead of the presidential election on June 21. The group stated its intention to respect voters' right to cast ballots freely and warned against foreign interference.
The ELN's ceasefire declaration aims to ensure a peaceful election environment, but past rebel actions and ongoing peace talks highlight the persistent security challenges and complex political landscape in Colombia.
Colombia's largest remaining rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), announced a unilateral ceasefire Monday, June 15, 2026, ahead of the country's presidential election scheduled for Sunday, June 21. The ELN stated its fighters are to cease attacks on the military from June 20 to June 23, asserting its respect for citizens' right to vote freely and warning against foreign interference in the electoral process.
Critics contend that previous ceasefires have been exploited by rebel groups to regroup and expand their control over rural communities, often through extortion and illegal enterprises. The ELN, with over 6,000 fighters in Colombia and Venezuela, is known to profit from illegal gold mining and the drug trade. The group, founded in the 1960s, has a history of criminal activities, including extortion and attacks on oil infrastructure.
The current administration under President Gustavo Petro initiated peace talks with the ELN in 2023, but these negotiations were canceled in 2025 following a series of attacks by the rebels. The Petro administration continues to engage in negotiations with other armed groups involved in drug trafficking and illegal mining, such as the Gulf Clan.
In the lead-up to the election, one of the presidential candidates, Abelardo de la Espriella, urged prosecutors to investigate alleged coercion of voters by rebel groups in remote municipalities, a claim denied by his opponent, Senator Iván Cepeda. In the first round of voting, Cepeda secured 40.9% of the vote, while de la Espriella received 43.7%.