By Javier Herrera
HAVANA TIMES – On Monday, January 22, the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) met in Havana to begin the 6th round of negotiations in an attempt to achieve peace and the demobilization of the insurgent group. The ELN has been widely labeled as a drug trafficker and terrorist organization.
The talks take place in Havana, Cuba, the sponsor of the dialogues, along with Mexico and Venezuela, while Brazil, Chile, and Norway act as guarantors. Germany, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland, along with a special envoy from the Secretary-General of the United Nations, participate as observers.
Havana hosted the third round between May 2 and June 9, 2023, where an agreement on a six-month bilateral ceasefire was reached. This agreement is set to expire on January 29 and is a central topic in the current discussions.
Another key issue to address is the practice of kidnapping and extortion as an economic means of subsistence