The Colombian government and the Front 33 of the Major State of Blocks and Fronts (EMBF), one of the dissidents of the FARC, have agreed to create a "peace zone" in the town of Tibú, in the department of Norte de Santander, with the aim of advancing an agreement with this group that operates in the Catatumbo region.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on social media: "A peace zone is agreed for the cessation of violence with Front 33 of the major state and the national government. The peace of Catatumbo begins." The agreement was signed in Cúcuta, the capital of Norte de Santander, and is described as a peace process "in an advanced phase".
According to the so-called 'Catatumbo Agreement', the installation of a Temporary Location Zone (ZUT) is established in the rural area of Tibú, where members of Front 33 of the EMBF FARC-EP will be located. This region is disputed by Front 33 and the guerrilla group of the National Liberation Army (ELN).
The agreement highlights that the ZUT will guarantee the social rule of law and the functioning of the institutions that will participate in the territorial transformations agreed upon in the framework of the Peace Dialogue Table, with the active participation of the Catatumbo communities in respect of their rights and freedoms.
The official text does not specify the duration of this peace zone, but it mentions that proposals for its location were evaluated and analyzed considering the security, logistics, geography, and basic needs of the members of Front 33 who will participate in the peace process with social and environmental justice.
It is worth mentioning that last January, the ELN launched an offensive in Catatumbo against the dissidents of Front 33, resulting in over 70 deaths and 54,000 displaced. As part of the negotiations, a bilateral and temporary ceasefire began in October, which ended on April 15. Despite not extending this ceasefire, the government suspended offensive military operations until May 18, providing a favorable environment for the consolidation of this "peace zone" in Catatumbo, where Front 33 fighters and weapons will gather.
