Colombia: ELN assassinations in Chocó

Event

Two community leaders were assassinated by four gunmen in Chocó department’s San José del Palmar municipality (village of La Italia) on April 10. The ELN guerilla group (Ejército de Liberación Nacional) is believed to be responsible. At least one of the victims was reportedly tortured. The motive for the killings remains under investigation as of April 13.

At least 217 community leaders have been murdered in Colombia since late 2016, when a peace deal between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrilla group (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) came into effect; 22 of the assassinations occurred in January and February 2018. The ELN and paramilitary crime organizations (BACRIM) have moved into territory left by the demobilized FARC, leading to violent turf wars and violence targeting local landowners and community leaders.

Further such violence is likely to continue in the medium-term, notably in the lead-up to the upcoming presidential elections, being held on May 22.

Context

As a reminder, peace talks between the Colombian government and the ELN are ongoing in Quito (Ecuador). Regardless, continued attacks by the ELN and anti-ELN operations by the Colombian security forces are likely in the absence of a bilateral ceasefire, one of the early goals of the resumed talks. Even if a ceasefire is implemented, violence will likely continue to some extent, as was the case during a 101-day bilateral ceasefire in place from October 2017 to January 2018. Furthermore, violence carried out by the country's various other armed groups (drug cartels, right-wing militias, local gangs, etc.) would continue as normal.

Advice

Due to the presence of a number of armed groups - including drug cartels, right-wing militias, and local gangs, and the ELN guerilla group - some Western governments advise against travel to various regions of the country, including parts of Chocó.