A total of 10 criminal organizations in Colombia have announced ceasefires, said the High Commissioner for Peace, Danilo Rueda.
Since taking office as Colombian president, Gustavo Petro announced the beginning of the search for “total peace.”
A dialogue will be held with criminal groups, drug traffickers, dissidents from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and the National Liberation Army (ELN).
The official said the groups have pledged not to commit crimes and are willing to work for the “total peace” proposed by the government of Gustavo Petro.
“Each group, with its own identity, essence, and motivation, expresses its willingness to be part of total peace.”
“In this exploratory phase, they were asked not to kill, not to disappear, and not to torture,” Rueda said.
The “total peace” is the Colombian government’s attempt to disarm the armed groups, drug traffickers, and criminal gangs operating in some parts of the country.
Colombia has been in conflict for over 50 years and has held peace talks with various organizations.
The most recent was the agreement signed between the state and the FARC in 2016.
It led to creating of a political party, a special court for conflict cases, and the demobilization of what was once the world’s oldest guerrilla group.