Key facts
- The Colombia Conflict is an insurgency / criminal violence in South America, currently Active (Medium intensity).
- Despite the 2016 peace deal with the FARC, Colombia faces continued violence from FARC dissident factions, the ELN guerrilla group, and criminal organizations contesting rural territory and trafficking routes.
- Key actors: Colombian state forces, ELN, FARC dissidents.
- What's at stake: Peace process, Rural security, Drug economy.
Latest developments
The headlines below are pulled automatically from Google News (the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) and link to primary reporting. They are updated periodically; last refreshed 2026-06-21.
- EXCLUSIVE: Colombia's ELN open to talks with new president, but says it can survive military offensive2026-06-17 — Reuters
- Colombia’s ELN rebels declare ceasefire before Sunday’s presidential election2026-06-15 — AP News
- Colombia’s ELN Open to Peace Talks After Election2026-06-17 — World Politics Review
- Could the ELN Be the Next Major Target in Venezuela?2026-06-18 — InSight Crime
- ELN Declares Election Ceasefire as Colombia’s Runoff Faces Voter Coercion2026-06-16 — The City Paper Bogotá
- Colombia's ELN rebels declare ceasefire before Sunday's presidential election2026-06-15 — The Killeen Daily Herald
- A Shattered Peace: Inside Colombia’s Never-Ending Drug War2026-06-15 — The New York Times
- Colombia's ELN rebels declare ceasefire before Sunday's presidential election2026-06-15 — Ottumwa Courier
Overview
Despite the 2016 peace deal with the FARC, Colombia faces continued violence from FARC dissident factions, the ELN guerrilla group, and criminal organizations contesting rural territory and trafficking routes.
This page is an evergreen orientation. Figures and control change continually — confirm the latest with the primary sources listed below.
Key actors
- Colombian state forces — the military and police.
- ELN — the National Liberation Army guerrilla group.
- FARC dissidents — factions that rejected the peace deal.
- Criminal groups — controlling drug-trafficking economies.
What's at stake
- Peace process: consolidating the FARC agreement and new talks.
- Rural security: violence against communities and activists.
- Drug economy: coca cultivation and trafficking.
- Regional spillover: tensions along the Venezuela border.
Colombia Conflict explained: the key dynamics
After the FARC peace deal
A landmark 2016 agreement demobilized the FARC, Colombia's largest guerrilla group, but dissident factions that rejected the deal continue armed activity in rural areas.
The ELN and criminal groups
The ELN guerrilla group and a range of criminal organizations contest territory, trafficking routes, and illegal economies, particularly in border and coca-growing regions.
Violence against communities
Rural communities, social leaders, and former combatants face targeted violence, a persistent challenge to consolidating the peace process.
Timeline: how the colombia conflict unfolded
- 1964 — The FARC and other guerrilla groups emerge, beginning decades of armed conflict.
- 2016 — A peace agreement demobilizes the FARC.
- 2017–22 — FARC dissidents and the ELN expand in areas the FARC vacated.
- 2023–26 — Government peace efforts continue amid persistent rural violence.
How this conflict is mapped and tracked
Colombia's conflict is now fragmented among dissidents, the ELN, and criminal groups, which ACLED tracks as distinct armed actors. UCDP records the relevant dyads. Because much violence targets individuals and communities, homicide and displacement data complement conflict-event data.
For how these datasets differ, see ACLED vs UCDP vs CFR and our guide to conflict-tracking tools.
How it fits the global picture
This is one of 29 active armed conflict theaters tracked on the Global Armed Conflicts Map. Explore related and concurrent conflicts:
Frequently asked questions
Is Colombia still in conflict in 2026?
Colombia faces residual armed conflict from the ELN, FARC dissidents, and criminal groups despite the 2016 peace deal. Confirm the current status with primary sources such as ACLED, UCDP, and the CFR Global Conflict Tracker.
Who are the FARC dissidents?
They are factions that rejected or abandoned the 2016 peace agreement and continue armed activity.
How can I follow it live?
Use the interactive conflict map to see this theater alongside 28 other active conflicts, filter by intensity and region, and open intelligence briefings for each.
Did the 2016 peace deal end Colombia's conflict?
It ended the FARC's insurgency but not armed conflict overall; dissident factions, the ELN, and criminal groups continue to operate, so violence persists in parts of the country.
Who are the FARC dissidents?
They are former FARC members and new recruits who rejected or abandoned the 2016 peace agreement and returned to armed activity, often tied to drug-trafficking economies.