Colombia: President Petro Declares State of Emergency Amid Deadly ELN Attacks in Northeast

Bogotá, Colombia – President Gustavo Petro announced on Monday, January 20, 2025, that Colombia will enter a “state of internal commotion,” a significant emergency measure granting the executive branch exceptional powers. The declaration comes in direct response to a surge in deadly attacks attributed to the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group in the volatile Catatumbo region, situated in the country’s northeast.

This constitutional mechanism allows the president to enact legislation by decree for a period of three months without requiring prior congressional approval. The decision underscores the Colombian government’s escalating concern over the violence that has claimed dozens of lives and forced thousands of residents to abandon their homes in recent weeks.

Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds in Catatumbo

The impact of the renewed conflict on civilian populations has been severe. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Colombia reported on the same Monday, January 20, that approximately 18,300 people have been displaced by this latest wave of violence in Catatumbo. These individuals have sought refuge in temporary shelters and hotels in the cities of Tibu, Ocaña, and Cúcuta, where local officials are now warning of a looming humanitarian crisis as resources are stretched thin.

Catatumbo, a mountainous area bordering Venezuela, is a critical region known for producing roughly 15% of Colombia’s total coca crop. This makes it a contested territory for various armed groups vying for control of lucrative illicit economies.

Petro Accuses ELN and Suspends Talks

President Petro, himself a former guerrilla member, took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to articulate his administration’s position. He stated unequivocally that the ELN has “chosen the path of war.” Petro further accused the rebel group, estimated by authorities to number around 6,000 fighters, of transforming into a drug trafficking organization, starkly comparing their methods to those of the infamous former cartel leader, Pablo Escobar.

The escalation of violence in Catatumbo directly followed Petro’s decision on Friday, January 17, to suspend peace negotiations with the ELN. These talks, initiated in 2022 as a cornerstone of Petro’s “Total Peace” policy, had stalled over fundamental disagreements regarding disarmament protocols and proposed economic reforms.

Reports from the region indicate that the recent violence includes targeted attacks by the ELN against civilians. These civilians are reportedly accused of collaborating with a rival armed group, the FARC-EMC (a dissident faction of the now-demobilized FARC). Witnesses describe the ELN taking people from their homes and executing them, alongside intense firefights occurring between ELN and FARC-EMC combatants in rural areas.

Understanding the “State of Internal Commotion”

The “state of internal commotion” is a potent, albeit constitutionally limited, tool available to the Colombian executive. It is formally enacted through a decree signed by the president and all members of his cabinet. While it grants temporary legislative powers, it is not unchecked. Colombia’s Constitutional Court retains the authority to review and potentially invalidate the decree and any laws passed under its auspices.

Importantly, the Colombian constitution explicitly prohibits the use of this emergency measure to suspend or dissolve congress or to eliminate fundamental civil rights. This provides a constitutional safeguard against potential executive overreach during such periods.

This measure has historical precedent in Colombia’s recent past. It was notably utilized by the administration of then-President Álvaro Uribe in the early 2000s. During that period, the state of internal commotion was invoked primarily to increase military financing through the implementation of a special war tax, aimed at bolstering the state’s fight against armed groups.

By declaring a state of internal commotion, President Petro signals the gravity of the security situation in Catatumbo and emphasizes the government’s intent to deploy all available tools, including swift legislative action, to address the crisis and its humanitarian fallout following the collapse of direct dialogue with the ELN.