Colombia: ELN attack in northern Colombia November 10

Event

On the morning (local time), on Saturday, November 10, members of the ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional) attacked a civilian convoy near Curumaní (César department), wounding at least five people and setting fire to multiple buses. Further attacks by the ELN, as well as clashes between the ELN and security forces, are likely expected in César department and nearby areas in the near term.

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. They are currently engaged in a power struggle with other criminal organizations in northern Colombia for dominance over control of the region's lucrative coca production.

Advice

Individuals in or planning travel to Colombia are advised to keep abreast of the situation. 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.