"The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the recent violence in the Catatumbo region", writes spokesperson Stephane Dujarric in a statement, adding that Guterres "demands that violence against civilians cease immediately".
Over the past few days, forces from the two large left-wing rebel groups ELN and Farc have clashed with each other in the Catatumbo region in northeastern Colombia, near the border with Venezuela, where many have fled. The situation prompted Colombian President Gustavo Petro to declare a state of emergency on Monday.
Furthermore, Colombia has reactivated arrest warrants for ELN movement leaders. In total, 31 leaders whose arrest warrants were previously withdrawn to enable continued peace talks are now being sought.
Colombia's government signed a peace agreement with Farc in 2016, and Petro initiated talks with ELN in 2022, promising to try to broker "total peace" in the country. However, the talks have stalled, and on Friday, Petro formally put the talks on hold due to the violence, accusing ELN of war crimes at the same time.
ELN, on the other hand, blames Farc for the escalation.
