Bogota, Colombia CNN —The Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) – one of the oldest and largest guerrilla groups still operating in the country – have agreed to implement a bilateral, six-month ceasefire starting on August 3. Cuba, Mexico, Norway, and Venezuela have acted as “guarantors” for the peace talks, as well as the United Nations and the Colombian Catholic church. The third round of peace negotiations between the Colombia's and the ELN in Havana on May 2, 2023. The ELN is still present in large swathes of the Colombian countryside and operates a military force of several thousand men according to military analysts and the Colombian military forces. Last week, Petro’s chief of staff Laura Sarabia and the Colombian ambassador to Venezuela, Armando Benedetti, both resigned amid mutual accusations of wiretapping.

---

Persons: Gustavo Petro, Miguel Diaz, guerre ‘ Antonio García, ”, Yamil Lage, ‘ Pablo Beltrán, ’, Ivan Duque, Petro, Laura Sarabia, Armando Benedetti Organizations: Colombia CNN, Colombian, National Liberation Army, Cuban, United Nations, Colombian Catholic, Getty, Revolutionary Armed Forces, FARC, European Union Locations: Bogota, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, Havana, Norway, AFP, Colombian, United States