Guerrilla attacks in northeast Colombia injure six amid peace crisis

ELN blamed for four bombings near the Venezuela border as talks collapse.

A police officer stands guard next to the debris of a toll booth attacked with explosives in Villa del Rosario, Norte de Santander province, Colombia, on February 20, 2025. Photo by Schneyder Mendoza/AFP

By Hayu Andini and Adila Ghina

Guerrilla fighters carried out four bomb attacks in northeast Colombia overnight, injuring six people, authorities said on Thursday. The attacks have raised concerns over the country’s fragile peace process, which has struggled to contain escalating violence.

The police and military attributed the attacks to the National Liberation Army (ELN), the largest remaining guerrilla group in Colombia. The government suspended peace talks with the ELN last month after the rebels launched an offensive in the Catatumbo region.

Multiple bombings shake Norte de Santander

One of the attacks involved a car bomb that severely damaged a toll booth outside the city of Villa del Rosario, near the Venezuelan border. Explosives also detonated at police stations in Villa del Rosario and neighboring Cúcuta, according to General William Quintero, the regional police commander.

A source in the Norte de Santander departmental government, speaking to AFP, confirmed that six people were injured in the explosions.

The Norte de Santander region is a long-standing stronghold of the ELN, a group of approximately 5,800 fighters. The ELN has been engaged in a violent campaign against rival groups and civilians it accuses of supporting them. Over 50 people have been killed, and around 50,000 have been displaced in recent weeks, prompting the Colombian government to halt negotiations.

Colombia’s peace process under strain

President Gustavo Petro was elected in 2022 on a platform of achieving “total peace” in Colombia, a country that has endured over six decades of armed conflict involving leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries, drug cartels, and the state.

His administration sought to negotiate peace with all remaining armed groups, but talks have repeatedly collapsed. The 2016 peace agreement that disarmed the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was seen as a major breakthrough, but violence has persisted as other groups continue fighting for control over lucrative drug trafficking routes.

Security analysts argue that Petro’s approach—scaling back military operations in favor of negotiations—has emboldened armed groups. “The security situation in Colombia has worsened under Petro’s peace strategy,” one analyst noted. “The lack of decisive military action has allowed groups like the ELN to expand their influence.”

The ELN has participated in peace negotiations with Colombia’s last five governments, but all attempts have failed.

Political turmoil adds to crisis

Colombia is also facing a deepening political crisis. President Petro, whose approval ratings have dropped significantly, recently asked his entire cabinet to resign, citing concerns over their effectiveness.

Among those who resigned was Defense Minister Iván Velásquez, who has been replaced by Air Force General Pedro Sánchez. The leadership change comes at a critical moment as the country grapples with escalating violence and internal instability.

On Monday, Petro claimed that his plane had been targeted in an assassination plot involving missiles. He accused “big mafias,” including the ELN, of orchestrating the alleged attack. However, no concrete evidence has been provided to support the claim.

Uncertain future for peace in Colombia

With peace talks stalled, guerrilla groups expanding their operations, and political instability mounting, Colombia faces an uncertain future. The recent attacks underscore the challenge of achieving long-term stability in a country where armed conflict remains deeply entrenched.

As the government reassesses its approach, the question remains whether Petro’s peace strategy can be salvaged—or if Colombia is headed for another cycle of prolonged violence.