Colombia on the brink: ELN guerrilla group prepares for return to war

The Guardian World Friday 07 August 2026, 07:00 UTC By Thomas Graham in Chocó; Photography by Santiago Mesa 1 min read

Key Points

As Abelardo de la Espriella takes office as president vowing a new military offensive, the country’s last leftwing rebels are getting ready to fight backAs the boat approached the riverbank, camouflaged figures watched from the tree line. Behind them, in the dim understory of the jungle, a commander of the National Liberation Army (ELN) sat with his rifle on his lap, amid the buzz and whine of insects and the thwacks of machetes on bamboo as his troops set up camp, hidden from enemy drones.

As Abelardo de la Espriella takes office as president vowing a new military offensive, the country’s last leftwing rebels are getting ready to fight back

As the boat approached the riverbank, camouflaged figures watched from the tree line.

Behind them, in the dim understory of the jungle, a commander of the National Liberation Army (ELN) sat with his rifle on his lap, amid the buzz and whine of insects and the thwacks of machetes on bamboo as his troops set up camp, hidden from enemy drones.

Colombia (LOCATION) ELN (ORG) Abelardo de la Espriella (PERSON) the National Liberation Army (ORG)

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Colombia on the brink: ELN guerrilla group prepares for return to war

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