The Colombian guerrilla group National Liberation Army (ELN) has announced a 72-hour armed strike in the Chocó department, in western Colombia. The strike is scheduled to begin next Tuesday, February 18, and end on Friday, February 21 of the same month. The reason behind this measure, according to the statement issued by the Western War Front Ogli Padilla, is the "serious humanitarian situation" and the "paramilitary advance" occurring in the region.
In the statement, the ELN guerrilla blames the Colombian Government as the main responsible for the humanitarian situation in Chocó, accusing the State of allowing the growth of illegal armed groups such as the Gulf Cartel. This conflict has intensified in recent weeks in the Medio San Juan region, where ELN guerrillas have clashed with members of the Gulf Clan, resulting in thousands of displaced individuals and people confined.
The dispute between these armed groups centers on control of the San Juan River, vital for the illegal economies operating in the area, such as drug trafficking, illegal logging, and illegal mining. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Office in Colombia has expressed concern about the situation in Chocó, reporting the recruitment of minors and the displacement of Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities.
In light of this situation, the Colombian Ministry of Defense has deployed additional soldiers in the Chocó area to protect the population and counteract the actions of illegal armed groups. The Navy has also contributed with armed boats to support troop mobility. In addition, recent attacks by the ELN against public forces in other departments, such as Arauca, have been recorded, as well as against dissidents of the FARC in different regions of the country.
Amid this armed conflict affecting the region, the civilian population of Chocó is in a state of extreme vulnerability, with thousands of people displaced and confined, while the ELN guerrilla announces an armed strike in protest of the humanitarian situation and the advance of paramilitary groups in the area.
