The Ombudsman of Colombia issued an early warning regarding the risk faced by communities in seven departments of the country due to the split of the Central General Staff (EMC), the largest dissidence of the FARC, which occurred last year.
According to the statement from the Ombudsman, the danger to the civilian population lies in the expansion and armed confrontation between the dissident groups of the defunct FARC-EP led by alias ‘Calarcá Córdoba’ and ‘Iván Mordisco’. The alert warns of risks in 45 municipalities in departments such as Putumayo, Caquetá, Huila, Amazonas, Meta, Guaviare, and Cauca, highlighting military confrontations and requesting urgent prevention measures.
The split of the EMC was confirmed following negotiations between the Government and the armed group in 2023 when alias ‘Iván Mordisco’ assumed leadership of the most belligerent faction after confrontations with alias ‘Calarcá Córdoba’. Although the authorities ceased negotiations with ‘Iván Mordisco’, they continue to dialogue with ‘Calarcá Córdoba’, now known as the General Staff of the Blocks (EMB).
Recently, clashes between the factions of the EMC in Calamar, Guaviare, left 20 dead and several injured. The alert from the Ombudsman coincides with a bloody confrontation between the ELN guerrilla and the 33rd Front of the FARC dissidents in the Catatumbo region, an alert that was ignored by the authorities in previous months.
