27 Nov 2018 | 12:57 AM UTC
Colombia: Army kills ELN leader in Chocó November 25
Military operations in Chocó department leave one ELN leader dead, five soldiers wounded on November 25; further security operations possible
Event
A military operation in southern Bajo Baudó (Chocó department) resulted in the death of an ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional) leader on Sunday, November 25. A military spokesman reported that the operation targeting members of the Che Guevara front of the ELN rebel group resulted in the death of "Miller," one of the group's leaders, and left five soldiers wounded. Further military operations and attacks by the ELN are likely in the coming weeks.
Context
The ELN - one of the country's last remaining rebel groups following the demobilization of the FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) - is believed to have around 1500 fighters in Colombia.
Advice
Individuals in Chocó department are advised to monitor the situation and anticipate security operations and possible rebel attacks in the coming weeks. Due to the presence of a number of armed groups - including drug cartels, right-wing militias, local gangs, and the ELN guerrilla group in addition to ex-FARC dissidents - Western governments generally advise against travel to various regions of the country, most notably most border areas on the frontiers with Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, and Panama.
