Colombia Suspends Ceasefire with FARC Dissident Group

The Colombian government has suspended its ceasefire with a faction of the FARC guerrilla group after both parties failed to agree on an extension before the agreement expired earlier this week. President Gustavo Petro emphasized that the suspension does not mean an end to ongoing peace talks, and both sides now have 72 hours to implement security measures. The decision follows recent disruptions, including the arrest of a key dissident leader and accusations by the faction that the government is taking a militarist approach. The group, known as the EMC, consists of thousands of fighters who did not sign the 2016 peace accord and are alleged to be involved in illegal mining and drug trafficking. Analysts warn that the move highlights the fragility of Colombia’s peace process, but officials maintain that negotiations will persist. The suspension raises concerns about the future of peace efforts in a nation still grappling with violence decades after the original FARC accord.