The Colombian government and the National Liberation Army, ELN, closed the second round of peace talks in Mexico City with a clearer focus on the long-awaited peace horizon. While challenges remain, the 25-day round of discussions laid the groundwork for concrete steps toward a ceasefire and a durable political settlement. ELN commander Pablo Beltrán described the progress as meaningful, noting the establishment of a shared peace agenda. The government side, led by President Gustavo Petro and supported by key negotiators, signaled recognition of the ELN as a serious party to the conflict and a commitment to seeking a political solution that addresses the root drivers of violence.
Vice President Francia Márquez participated in the talks, which also tackled broader questions about citizen participation and community involvement in the peace process. Delegations from both sides will reconvene in Havana. Cuba was instrumental in earlier negotiations that helped end the conflict with the FARC several years ago, highlighting its ongoing role as a facilitator in regional dialogue.
Beltrán emphasized that achieving inclusive and lasting peace requires broad engagement from all sectors of society. In his words, all parties must participate in the design and implementation of peace efforts.
#ATTENTION | Live coverage shows that the government’s Peace Delegation and the ELN concluded the second round of the Peace Dialogues at the Colegio de San Ildefonso in Mexico City. Live broadcast at 13:00. #AvanzaLaPaz.
– High Commissioner for Peace
“complete peace”
Since taking office, the presidency has signaled a commitment to pursuing complete peace that would extend beyond armed groups to include criminal networks and illicit groups. Reaching a definitive agreement with the ELN is a central piece of this broader peace architecture. The path has never been simple. Earlier attempts, including a 2017 round of negotiations, did not yield a final accord. The change in leadership opened new conditions for dialogue, with Caracas hosting the restart late last year and the process being sponsored by regional partners. Other guarantors and supporters have included Venezuela, Norway and Cuba, with Mexico, Norway and Brazil playing roles as co-guarantors and other countries offering support.
The agenda endorsed by the government and the ELN is wide-ranging and invites ongoing public discussion about how to implement reforms. The joint document frames the aim as building a political and social alliance toward a broad national agreement and identifying the underlying causes of the country’s principal problems to drive transformational change. It stresses that weapons should not be used as a means to advance political, economic, or social aims.
The declaration highlights the inclusion of all segments of society in the peace project, including men and women, youth, the elderly, indigenous communities, peasants, workers, people deprived of liberty, diaspora communities, historically marginalized groups, and persons with disabilities, in the effort to construct a democratic peace.
Political changes
The long struggle to end the armed conflict dating back to 1964 calls for a reevaluation of political, social, and environmental conflicts through a peacebuilding lens. The aim is to examine the political regime and economic model that shape the country while encouraging peaceful mobilization and protest as a legitimate form of democratic participation.
Peace priorities must be matched with public policies that address poverty, social exclusion, corruption, and environmental degradation, all in the pursuit of greater equality. The peace plan supports comprehensive development strategies that target both urban and rural areas, recognizing the need for inclusive growth and sustainable opportunity.