Colombia's President Gustavo Petro declared a state of emergency and announced "war" against left-wing guerrilla groups after a surge in violence claimed over 100 lives in just five days. The violence is concentrated in three regions, spanning from the Amazon jungle in the south to the northeastern border with Venezuela.

The violence has forced 11,000 people to flee their homes. Analysts believe the fighting is linked to a turf war between rival militias battling for control over the lucrative cocaine trade.

President Petro’s warning to ELN

The National Liberation Army (ELN), accused of attacking rival groups in the border areas and killing 80 people, was specifically called out by President Petro.
“The ELN has chosen the path of war, and war they shall have,” Petro warned.

To address the crisis, he declared a state of "internal unrest" and "economic emergency," which allows local authorities to impose restrictions like controlling people's movements.

Currently, 5,000 troops have been deployed to the border area. In Tibu, a town in the affected region, heavily armed soldiers are preparing for missions but have not yet reached the most critical zones. Senior officers reported ongoing violence in these areas, making the situation extremely tense.

How are residents coping?

Many terrified residents have fled the violence. In towns like Tibu, shelters are set up for those who escaped. Some crossed into Venezuela, reversing earlier migration trends due to instability in Colombia.

“As a Colombian, it is painful for me to leave my country,” said Geovanny Valero, a farmer who sought refuge in Venezuela. He hopes for peace so he can return home.

Violence in other regions

Colombia's defence ministry reported more clashes in the Amazon department of Guaviare, where 20 people were killed. These fights involve dissident factions of the FARC, who did not agree to the 2016 peace accord.

Colombia’s 2016 peace deal was seen as a major achievement, ending decades of conflict that claimed nearly 500,000 lives. However, dissident guerrilla groups, drug cartels, and militias still control parts of the country.

Critics argue that President Petro's "total peace" approach has emboldened these groups, allowing them to expand their power and disrupt Colombia’s fragile peace process.