.png){kind=logo}
The handing over of arms clears the path for the potential reintroduction of around 300 Comuneros del Sur insurgents back into everyday society.
The Colombian armed group known as Comuneros del Sur (Commoners of the South) surrendered weapons and inked two accords with President Gustavo Petro, according to statements made by both parties on Saturday.
"This marks a significant historical event," stated Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez during a ceremony held in the city of Pasto within the southwestern Andean area.
He mentioned that over the last forty-eight hours, the team has transferred anti-personnel mines, fragmentation grenades, and rocket launchers to an army division for their dismantlement.
"We believe that the era of armed conflict is outdated, recognizing that we now face new circumstances and fresh requirements. Therefore, we reject reverting to warfare," stated Royer Garzon, a key figure within the organization.
This step makes it possible for approximately 300 Comuneros del Sur rebels to eventually surrender their weapons and integrate into civilian life.
Up until last May, the Comuneros del Sur were affiliated with the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN), which boasts around 6,000 combatants and continues to engage in armed conflict against the Colombian government.
When the Comuneros del Sur split from the ELN and started peace discussions with the Petro administration, it enraged the ELN leadership and halted its own negotiations with the Colombian government.
Challenging peace negotiations in Colombia
In 2016, Colombia entered into a peace agreement with the nation's biggest insurgent organization, FARC—the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—where over 13,000 combatants surrendered their weapons.
However, with the FARC's exit from certain rural regions, a void of power has emerged, which various small factions have attempted to occupy.
Petro’s administration has conducted peace negotiations with nine distinct rebel factions and drug cartels in Colombia through an approach termed “comprehensive peace.”
Many of these discussions have failed to reduce violence So far, only the Comuneros del Sur have consented to start transitioning to civilian life.
The Colombian administration is currently facing challenges in ensuring safety in isolated countryside regions where Various factions clash over control of drug smuggling pathways and exploitation of natural assets. while coercively enlisting children and imposing taxes on local enterprises to generate revenue.
Edited by: Zac Crellin
Author: Dmytro Hubenko (with Reuters, AP)
