<div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-0"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">In remote Catatumbo, security forces are confined to sandbagged stations and patrol in small groups with rifles concealed, while avoiding deeper jungle areas where two guerrilla groups fight for territory along Colombia’s northeast border with Venezuela. Civilians display white flags as authorities struggle to curb crossfire and maintain order.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">The conflict involves younger guerrilla fighters enforcing curfews and controls in the region, with drones and combat tactics emerging as the war persists beyond the 2016 peace agreement.</p></div></div><div data-testid="InteractiveBlock-1"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-1"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Further into the hills, dissident groups continue to target rivals and conduct drone strikes, illustrating the ongoing intensity of Colombia’s post-peace conflicts that have intensified violence in rural areas.</p></div></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-3"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-2"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">A local farmer described coca cultivation as fueling bloodshed in Catatumbo, noting that guerrilla factions show little mercy. Ten years after a landmark peace deal, the region remains volatile as old and new armed groups vie for influence and illicit economies.</p></div></div><div data-testid="ImageBlock-5"><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper"><figure class="img-sz-large css-hxpw2c e1gx6hox0" aria-label="media" role="group"><div class="css-1xdhyk6 e1acqrl40" data-testid="photoviewer-children-figure"><picture><source media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/06/15/multimedia/15int-colombia-armed-conflict-bzck/15int-colombia-armed-conflict-bzck-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1800"><source media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/06/15/multimedia/15int-colombia-armed-conflict-bzck/15int-colombia-armed-conflict-bzck-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200"><source media="(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/06/15/multimedia/15int-colombia-armed-conflict-bzck/15int-colombia-armed-conflict-bzck-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=600"><img alt="A person wearing a red shirt and a dark hat sits on a green chair outside a colorful blue and red building. Bunches of bananas in varying stages of ripeness are displayed nearby." class="css-r3fift" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/06/15/multimedia/15int-colombia-armed-conflict-bzck/15int-colombia-armed-conflict-bzck-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/06/15/multimedia/15int-colombia-armed-conflict-bzck/15int-colombia-armed-conflict-bzck-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 600w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/06/15/multimedia/15int-colombia-armed-conflict-bzck/15int-colombia-armed-conflict-bzck-jumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 1024w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/06/15/multimedia/15int-colombia-armed-conflict-bzck/15int-colombia-armed-conflict-bzck-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 2048w" sizes="((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 80vw, 100vw" uri="nyt://image/994159d5-5903-5848-bed8-3ba9c44be968" decoding="async" width="600" height="399"></picture></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" class="css-1g9ic6e e1o75wsu0"><span class="css-jevhma e3zar750">“Coca is the cause of bloodshed in Catatumbo,” said Jose Reyes Quintero, 82, a farmer.</span></figcaption></figure></div></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-3"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">An overview recalls that Colombia’s long conflict dates back more than five decades, with a 2016 peace accord disarming a major guerrilla group, though violence persists as various factions expand under vacuumed state presence and illicit economies.</p></div></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-7"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-4"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">The peace deal earned the former president a Nobel Prize, but observers say peace did not take hold as groups capitalized on cease-fires to grow stronger, extending their reach into remote areas and illicit economies.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Security forces failed to adapt to tactics where groups blend with civilians and exert control covertly.</p></div></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-11"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-6"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">The military’s focus on a FARC-centered view of the conflict is challenged by dissident factions that do not operate from traditional camps, complicating counterinsurgency efforts.</p></div></div><div data-testid="ImageBlock-13"><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper"><figure class="img-sz-large css-hxpw2c e1gx6hox0" aria-label="media" role="group"><div class="css-1xdhyk6 e1acqrl40" data-testid="photoviewer-children-figure"><div class="css-nwd8t8" data-testid="lazy-image"><div data-testid="lazyimage-container" style="height:255.84444444444446px"></div></div></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" class="css-1g9ic6e e1o75wsu0"><span class="css-jevhma e3zar750">President Gustavo Petro at the presidential palace in Bogotá in March.</span></figcaption></figure></div></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-7"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Critics say Total Peace did not account for civilian protection and that the security forces failed to adapt to evolving tactics, allowing regional groups to grow and extend influence.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Analysts and researchers argue that the path to lasting peace requires addressing root causes such as poverty, inequality, and lack of state presence in remote regions.</p></div></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-15"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-8"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">The runoff campaign presents a choice between continuing dialogues and a more aggressive military approach, with candidates proposing different strategies to curb violence and restore order.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Observers note the impact of foreign policy, including potential U.S. involvement in Colombia’s drug war, on regional security dynamics.</p></div></div><div data-testid="ImageBlock-17"><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper"><figure class="img-sz-large css-hxpw2c e1gx6hox0" aria-label="media" role="group"><div class="css-1xdhyk6 e1acqrl40" data-testid="photoviewer-children-figure"><div class="css-nwd8t8" data-testid="lazy-image"><div data-testid="lazyimage-container" style="height:257.1333333333334px"></div></div></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" class="css-1g9ic6e e1o75wsu0"><span class="css-jevhma e3zar750">Abelardo De La Espriella during a campaign rally in Medellín last month.</span></figcaption></figure></div></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-18"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-9"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">The election could determine whether the United States takes a more direct role in Colombia’s drug war as candidates emphasize competing approaches to governance and security in fragile regions.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">The violence remains most acute in rural areas, with Catatumbo experiencing displacement, casualties, and ongoing clashes between rival groups and the military.</p></div></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-20"></div><div data-testid="ImageBlock-21"><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper"><figure class="img-sz-large css-hxpw2c e1gx6hox0" aria-label="media" role="group"><div class="css-1xdhyk6 e1acqrl40" data-testid="photoviewer-children-figure"><div class="css-nwd8t8" data-testid="lazy-image"><div data-testid="lazyimage-container" style="height:255.84444444444446px"></div></div></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" class="css-1g9ic6e e1o75wsu0"><span class="css-jevhma e3zar750">A guerrilla fighter inside an underground bunker.</span></figcaption></figure></div></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-10"><div class="css-53u6y8"><h2 class="css-9zl7ef expuye50" id="link-43feb398">Trapped in the Crossfire</h2><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Catatumbo’s rugged terrain has left communities isolated, with limited state presence and infrastructure aiding the illicit economies that fuel the conflict, including coca, gold, and other resources.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Armed groups, including dissident FARC factions and the E.L.N., have turned bases into bunkers using drones for attacks, complicating efforts to restore order.</p></div></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-23"></div><div data-testid="VideoBlock-24"><figure class="sizeLarge layoutVertical verticalVideo css-1es9ub3" aria-label="media" data-testid="VideoBlock"><div class="css-1xb94ky" style="position:relative"><div class="css-11kuxu4" style="width:100%;padding-bottom:177.77777777777777%;overflow:hidden"><div class="css-122y91a"></div></div></div><figcaption class="css-ktho12 e8he3mt0"><span class="css-jevhma e3zar750" data-testid="video-summary">A guerrilla fighter, part of a dissident FARC unit, launching a drone at a strategic position.</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-11"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">The dissident FARC unit, Frente 33, operates alongside the E.L.N., which has thousands of members and views the dissidents as a threat, fueling ongoing clashes as both groups seek leverage over local communities.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Statements from leaders reflect a belief that resolving Colombia’s broader inequality and need issues is essential to ending the conflict.</p></div></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-26"></div><div data-testid="ImageBlock-27"><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper"><figure class="img-sz-large css-hxpw2c e1gx6hox0" aria-label="media" role="group"><div class="css-1xdhyk6 e1acqrl40" data-testid="photoviewer-children-figure"><div class="css-nwd8t8" data-testid="lazy-image"><div data-testid="lazyimage-container" style="height:257.1333333333334px"></div></div></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" class="css-1g9ic6e e1o75wsu0"><span class="css-jevhma e3zar750">Andrey Avendaño, the commander of the FARC’s 33rd Front in Catatumbo.</span></figcaption></figure></div></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-12"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">The groups act as middlemen, taxing drug traffickers, coal mining, and other illicit activities, while expanding influence through infrastructure projects and coercive governance in areas with weak state presence.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Rising tensions between the 33rd Front and the E.L.N. have intensified as perceptions of legitimacy and territorial control clash during negotiations with authorities.</p></div></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-29"></div><div data-testid="ImageBlock-30"><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper"><figure class="img-sz-large css-hxpw2c e1gx6hox0" aria-label="media" role="group"><div class="css-1xdhyk6 e1acqrl40" data-testid="photoviewer-children-figure"><div class="css-nwd8t8" data-testid="lazy-image"><div data-testid="lazyimage-container" style="height:257.1333333333334px"></div></div></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" class="css-1g9ic6e e1o75wsu0"><span class="css-jevhma e3zar750">The town of Versalles shows graffiti from the conflict.</span></figcaption></figure></div></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-13"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">A January 2025 strike against a funeral-home owner and his family triggered a new wave of fighting, with civilians killed and thousands displaced as the E.L.N. mounted a surprise offensive against the 33rd Front.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">The violence has left communities traumatized, with children and families bearing the brunt of attacks and forced displacement.</p></div></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-32"></div><div data-testid="ImageBlock-33"><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper"><figure class="img-sz-large css-hxpw2c e1gx6hox0" aria-label="media" role="group"><div class="css-1xdhyk6 e1acqrl40" data-testid="photoviewer-children-figure"><div class="css-nwd8t8" data-testid="lazy-image"><div data-testid="lazyimage-container" style="height:257.1333333333334px"></div></div></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" class="css-1g9ic6e e1o75wsu0"><span class="css-jevhma e3zar750">Matias, a 9-year-old who witnessed killings near his home, reflects the ongoing human cost of the conflict.</span></figcaption></figure></div></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-14"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Families face tough choices between staying for livelihood and leaving for safety as the coca-to-palm transition continues, framing a broader struggle over economic survival.</p></div></div><div data-testid="ImageBlock-35"><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper"><figure class="img-sz-large css-hxpw2c e1gx6hox0" aria-label="media" role="group"><div class="css-1xdhyk6 e1acqrl40" data-testid="photoviewer-children-figure"><div class="css-nwd8t8" data-testid="lazy-image"><div data-testid="lazyimage-container" style="height:257.1333333333334px"></div></div></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" class="css-1g9ic6e e1o75wsu0"><span class="css-jevhma e3zar750">FARC rebels preparing a meal in the jungle.</span></figcaption></figure></div></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-15"><div class="css-53u6y8"><h2 class="css-9zl7ef expuye50" id="link-726a70de">Into the Front Lines</h2><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Guerrilla fighters move through Catatumbo’s countryside, often in small groups, with many joining at young ages and living under military-like discipline.</p></div></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-37"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-16"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Fighters wear AR-15s and AK-47s, cook on stoves, and access the internet via Starlink, reflecting a blend of traditional insurgency and modern connectivity shaped by poverty and persistent conflict.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Many say joining the dissidents provides purpose amid hardship, though life-long service remains unpaid yet offers shelter and sustenance.</p></div></div><div data-testid="ImageBlock-39"><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper"><figure class="img-sz-large css-hxpw2c e1gx6hox0" aria-label="media" role="group"><div class="css-1xdhyk6 e1acqrl40" data-testid="photoviewer-children-figure"><div class="css-nwd8t8" data-testid="lazy-image"><div data-testid="lazyimage-container" style="height:257.1333333333334px"></div></div></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" class="css-1g9ic6e e1o75wsu0"><span class="css-jevhma e3zar750">Daniela Rodríguez, 22, a FARC member, survived a gunfight that also affected her family.</span></figcaption></figure></div></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-17"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Rodríguez describes personal ties to the conflict, including the loss of her father and the ongoing strains within her family as the war continues.</p></div></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-41"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-18"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">She reveals that violence extended to her mother and child, with the family experiencing multiple fatalities and ongoing fear, reinforcing the personal costs of the broader regional conflict.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">The narrative highlights the chilling reality of a cycle of violence that continues to disrupt lives across Catatumbo.</p></div></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-43"></div><div data-testid="ImageBlock-44"><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper"><figure class="img-sz-large css-hxpw2c e1gx6hox0" aria-label="media" role="group"><div class="css-1xdhyk6 e1acqrl40" data-testid="photoviewer-children-figure"><div class="css-nwd8t8" data-testid="lazy-image"><div data-testid="lazyimage-container" style="height:255.84444444444446px"></div></div></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" class="css-1g9ic6e e1o75wsu0"><span class="css-jevhma e3zar750">Jaime Botero, a community leader in Tibú, warns that a stronger military response could lead to more bloodshed.</span></figcaption></figure></div></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-19"><div class="css-53u6y8"><h2 class="css-9zl7ef expuye50" id="link-1813bcee">A Vicious Cycle</h2><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Ten years after the peace deal, Catatumbo’s experience reflects broader conflicts where peace has not resolved inequality or provided adequate state security, allowing illicit economies to flourish.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">President Petro has emphasized evaluating peace strategies, while critics say a stronger military approach risks renewed bloodshed and fails to address underlying causes.</p></div></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-46"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-20"><div class="css-53u6y6"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Community leaders like Botero advocate caution, arguing that conflict begets more conflict and that solutions require addressing root economic and social grievances.</p></div></div><div data-testid="ImageBlock-48"><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper"><figure class="img-sz-large css-hxpw2c e1gx6hox0" aria-label="media" role="group"><div class="css-1xdhyk6 e1acqrl40" data-testid="photoviewer-children-figure"><div class="css-nwd8t8" data-testid="lazy-image"><div data-testid="lazyimage-container" style="height:255.84444444444446px"></div></div></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" class="css-1g9ic6e e1o75wsu0"><span class="css-jevhma e3zar750">An abandoned store in Versalles, illustrating the impact of the conflict on commerce and daily life.</span></figcaption></figure></div></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-21"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-f3337s erlrjdy0">Federico Ríos and Sofía Villamil contributed reporting.</p></div></div><p><strong><a href="https://blockads.fivefilters.org">Adblock test</a></strong> <a href="https://blockads.fivefilters.org/acceptable.html">(Why?)</a></p>
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