FARC Conflict - Part.1

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was founded in 1964 as a Marxist-Leninist guerrilla group, initially aiming to represent rural workers against social inequality and government neglect. Over time, FARC evolved into the largest insurgent group in Colombia, with up to 20,000 fighters at its peak. The group funded its operations through kidnapping, extortion, and especially the drug trade, which fueled decades of violent conflict with the Colombian government, right-wing paramilitaries, and rival guerrilla groups like the ELN. The violence left over 220,000 people dead and millions displaced, marking one of the longest-running armed conflicts in the Western Hemisphere.

In 2016, after four years of negotiations in Havana, FARC signed a historic peace agreement with the Colombian government. The group agreed to disarm and transition into civilian life, forming a legal political party known as the Commons (formerly the FARC Party). Around 13,000 fighters demobilized, and many reintegrated into society. Despite the peace deal, implementation was slow and uneven—many former fighters faced threats, assassinations, and a lack of promised economic support. Still, the peace accord significantly reduced violence and transformed the FARC from an armed insurgency into a legitimate political actor.

Not all FARC members accepted the peace deal. Several commanders and fighters—most notably those behind groups like Segunda Marquetalia and the Estado Mayor Central (EMC)—rejected the agreement and rearmed. These dissident factions are now deeply involved in narcotrafficking, illegal mining, and violent territorial disputes, especially in regions like Cauca, Nariño, and Catatumbo. While smaller in size than the original FARC, these groups remain powerful spoilers to peace, clashing with government forces, civilians, and rival groups like the ELN. As of 2025, these factions are still active in Colombia’s fragmented civil conflict, resisting total disarmament and undermining the full realization of peace.