Nine soldiers killed in bloody fights in Colombia!

Nine soldiers in Colombia killed in fighting; Regional security situation tense through continuing rebel activities.
Nine soldiers in Colombia killed in fighting; Regional security situation tense through continuing rebel activities. (Symbolbild/NAGW)

Nine soldiers killed in bloody fights in Colombia!

In violent fights in southeastern Colombia, at least nine soldiers were killed. The clashes occurred in the Guaviare department, where alleged rebels attack. During these clashes, around ten other military people were dragged off by the armed groups. According to Tagesspiegel These dangerous situations of various splinter groups of the former guerrilla organization FARC will assumed that have not accepted the 2016 peace treaty and are involved in illegal activities such as drug trafficking, illegal mining and draft compensation.

In the past two weeks, 18 soldiers and police officers have already been killed in Colombia. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez sharply condemned the targeted murder of police and military members, especially if they are also attacked outside of their service. The armed conflict in Colombia originated in 1964 when left -wing rebels fought against the military and right paramilitaries. This conflict ultimately called for around 220,000 fatalities and distributed millions of people from their home regions.

security situation and peace process

The peace process, which was formalized in 2016 with the Farc-EP, led to an improvement in the security situation in Colombia. On June 22, 2016, a final ceasefire between the Colombian government and the FARC was agreed, and over 6,500 FARC fighters were given their weapons by June 2017. However, despite this agreement, armed groups are still active, especially in the rural areas of the country, such as the Eln-Guerilla. These tend to fill the power vacuums created by the deduction of the Farc, and are often closely connected to drug trafficking, which tightens the already tense security situation.

In the entire history of the conflict, not only combat acts, but also selective murders and kidnappings have contributed to a humanitarian crisis in Colombia. It is estimated that between 4.7 and 5.7 million people were sold due to the armed conflict. The drug mafia plays a crucial role in this complications, since it contributes significantly to the financing of many armed groups, which are primarily employed by the cocaine trade. The support from international partners, such as the USA, also contributed to the militarization of the conflict.

effects on the region

The effects of the conflict in Colombia are not only limited to the country itself. They also affect neighboring countries, since guerrillas and paramilitaries often disregard the borders. There were always tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, which were triggered by military attacks and measures to fight drugs. These developments make it clear that peace in Colombia is also a challenge for the entire region and the international community is still required to promote a sustainable solution.

For further information on the background of the armed conflict in Colombia, additional details are on Wikipedia and PHAIDRA available.

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OrtGuaviare, Kolumbien
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