The Colombian government has announced the suspension of its bilateral ceasefire with FARC-EP, a dissident faction of the once-powerful Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).[1] This move comes after both sides failed to reach an agreement on extending the ceasefire, which had been in effect since December 2023 and had been renewed several times. Although the suspension of the ceasefire does not necessarily mean the end of ongoing peace negotiations, it underscores the increasing instability of Colombia’s ambitious yet troubled peace process.
The end of the ceasefire was officially confirmed last Thursday. Under a previously established emergency agreement, both the government and FARC-EP were given 72 hours to reposition their forces and implement individual security and protection measure a temporary protocol designed to reduce the risk of violent clashes. This development is significant not only for its direct impact on the security dynamics in conflict-affected regions, but also because it highlights the broader challenges facing President Gustavo Petro’s “Total Peace” agenda an ambitious strategy aimed at achieving a comprehensive peace agreement with all armed groups operating within the country.[2]
To fully grasp the consequences of this latest collapse, it is helpful to place the issue within the historical trajectory of the Colombian conflict and the 2016 Peace Agreement. Founded in 1964, the FARC was a Marxist-Leninist guerrilla organization and had long been the principal insurgent force in Colombia. For over fifty years, the group waged war against the Colombian state, drawing on grievances in rural areas, political marginalization, and profits from the illegal drug economy to sustain its activities. The conflict produced a devastating humanitarian toll, including more than 450,000 deaths and over 7 million internally displaced persons. After many failed attempts at dialogue, progress was finally made during the presidency of Juan Manuel Santos, culminating in the Peace Agreement signed in Havana, Cuba in 2016. The agreement aimed to demobilize FARC as an armed organization and reintegrate its members into civilian life, with provisions focusing on political participation, rural development, transitional justice, and alternative development strategies to replace coca cultivation.[3]
Although around 13,000 former guerrillas laid down their arms and entered the reintegration process, the implementation of the peace agreement has proceeded unevenly. Many of the socioeconomic reforms, particularly in rural areas, have been delayed, and numerous former militants have been assassinated. The inability to fill the power vacuum left by the demobilized FARC has led to illegal armed groups, including FARC dissidents, regaining control over strategic regions.
Among the groups that rejected the 2016 agreement is the FARC-EP, led by former militant Alexander Díaz Mendoza, known by the alias “Calarca Córdoba.” This group, which claims the government failed to uphold its commitments, is estimated to have around 1,500 fighters dispersed across Colombia’s rural and forested areas.
Unlike the now-dissolved FARC, the FARC-EP continues to employ guerrilla warfare tactics, seek regional control, and generate income from drug trafficking and illegal mining. They are especially active in border regions and in resource-rich areas where state presence is minimal or merely symbolic. Despite their rearmament, the Petro administration has extended an invitation for peace talks to all armed actors, from guerrilla groups to paramilitary forces and criminal organizations, under a broader “Total Peace” policy aimed at disarmament negotiations.
The ceasefire agreement signed with FARC-EP in late 2023 was initially seen as both a symbolic and strategic success for the Petro administration. However, the failure to renew the ceasefire in 2024 and the FARC-EP leadership’s silence in response to the suspension now threatens to reverse the confidence-building measures achieved in previous months. The collapse of the ceasefire can be viewed as a serious blow to an already fragile negotiation framework. While both sides have technically maintained diplomatic space for dialogue, trust has been significantly eroded.
Although the government has managed to open negotiation channels with various groups, including the National Liberation Army (ELN), progress in terms of disarmament, regional stability, or improvements in civilian security has been limited.
Today, Colombia faces a complex and fragmented security landscape. In addition to FARC-EP, several other FARC dissident groups continue to operate outside the peace process. In response, the Colombian Army has increased its presence in some areas and launched operations. Targets of these operations include the “Segunda Marquetalia” (FARC-SM), a group led by former high-ranking commanders who rearmed in 2019, citing the government’s failure to uphold the 2016 agreement.[4]
The suspension of the ceasefire between the Colombian Government and FARC-EP represents more than just a failed truce, it signals deeper structural weaknesses in Colombia’s peacebuilding efforts. Nearly a decade after the 2016 Peace Agreement, the country continues to struggle with disarmament, reintegration, and regional governance. President Petro’s “Total Peace” initiative, while ambitious and historically significant, now stands at a critical crossroads. The breakdown of a major ceasefire could embolden other groups to halt or withdraw from negotiations altogether, and may also signal to communities affected by the conflict that the promise of peace remains difficult to fulfill.
It is clear that sustainable peace in Colombia will require more than just agreements and ceasefires, it will demand a long-term, well-funded, and community-centered strategy that addresses the root causes of the conflict, such as land inequality, state weakness, political exclusion, and economic vulnerability. Until then, the image of a Colombia free from conflict will remain a subject of debate.
[1] “Colombia suspends ceasefire with FARC guerrilla faction”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/colombia-suspends-ceasefire-with-farc-guerrilla-faction-2025-04-17/, (Date Accession: 18.04.2025).
[2] “Colombia: From ‘Total Peace’ to Local Peace”, Crisis Group, https://www.crisisgroup.org/latin-america-caribbean/andes/colombia/colombia-total-peace-local-peace, (Date Accession: 18.04.2025).
[3] Baysal, B., & Sezek, E. N. (2022). Kolombiya – FARC Barış Sürecinin Uygulanması: Sorunlar ve Riskler. Türkiye Siyaset Bilimi Dergisi, 5(1), 35-48.
[4] “Así fue el operativo en el que cayeron un cabecilla y tres integrantes de la Segunda Marquetalia en Vichada”, Infobae,
https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2025/04/13/asi-fue-el-operativo-en-el-que-cayeron-un-cabecilla-y-tres-integrantes-de-la-segunda-marquetalia-en-vichada/, (Date Accession: 18.04.2025).
