Colombia on the brink: ELN guerrilla group prepares for return to war

Colombia is bracing for a renewed surge in violence as President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella takes office on Friday, vowing to end peace talks and launch a new military offensive. The ELN, the country’s last leftwing guerrilla group, says it is ready to fight, including attacks in cities and the countryside, depending on instructions from leadership. In the Pacific department of Chocó, ELN commander Yerson and his troops set up hidden camps accessible only after hours by river, amid threats from enemy drones. The group fights alongside and against other armed actors, including the Gulf Clan, to control the San Juan River and its gold resources. Colombia’s conflict began in the 1960s and has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.