Colombian government begins informal talks with dissidents of FARC guerrillas

Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that his government had begun informal talks with dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

“A dialogue has begun,” Petro wrote on his Twitter account.

Petro also attached two photos showing emissaries of his government holding talks with members of the dissidents in a kind of “cambuche” in the middle of the Colombian jungle.

The dialogue began with the front known as “Jorge Briceño,” to whom the dissidents pay homage under the name “Mono Jojoy,” one of the most representative leaders of the defunct FARC.

This group signed the peace agreement with the state in 2016 and was killed by the National Army in a bombing in 2010.

Currently, the FARC dissidents are led by Iván Márquez.

In addition, the group includes the alias “Jesús Santrich” and “El Paisa,” three of the commanders who left the peace process between the FARC and the state to reestablish the group.

Since taking office, Gustavo Petro assured that one of his main actions would be to seek peace with the different national armed groups such as the FARC dissidents, the National Liberation Army (ELN), and the Gulf Clan.

With the ELN, the government confirmed the official resumption of peace talks in Havana, Cuba, led by Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva.