Colombian Guerrillas Unite

Despite profound ideological differences and a long history of fighting between the groups, the two largest Colombian guerrilla armies, the ELN and the FARC, have forged a pact to fight the country’s security forces.

The FARC and ELN have both been losing support and power in Colombia, which may help explain the agreement reached between the two groups that have for so long resisted cooperation.  —JCL

The BBC:

Two of Colombia’s biggest rebel groups have announced they intend to unite to fight the country’s security forces.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) said they were “on our way towards working for unity”.

Farc and the smaller ELN have deep ideological differences and have fought each other in some regions.

Together they could be a significantly greater danger to the state, says the BBC’s Jeremy McDermott.

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A pro-FARC billboard criticizes U.S. intervention in Colombia under “Plan Colombia” anti-drug operations.