Colombia's Petro pauses FARC offensive in order to progress in peace talks

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Friday ordered the suspension of a military offensive against a faction of what was once the armed Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in order to make headway on peace talks with the rebel group.

The suspension follows the expiration earlier this week of a bilateral ceasefire agreement between the government and the FARC-EP group. An extension was expected to be agreed upon, but failed to be settled in time.

The new order, made by government decree, will be in effect until May 18.

According to the decree, the decision was made to guarantee security conditions along transit routes near where the FARC-EP operates and to ensure agricultural production in the area.

The ceasefire had been in effect since December 2023 and had been extended several times. The government said earlier this week that its expiry did not imply the end of peace talks with the group.

Talks with this branch of the FARC, with around 1,500 members, are part of Petro's efforts to end a six-decade-long armed conflict that has left more than 450,000 people dead. Still, his government has made little progress since he took office in 2022.