Around 100 CNEB fighters surrendered weapons in southern Colombia, starting reintegration | Ukraine news

A ceremony in southern jungles saw about 100 members of the CNEB lay down arms, marking the first step toward civilian reintegration under Petro’s peace plan.

About 100 members of the Colombian guerrilla group the National Coordinating Committee of the Bolivarian Army (CNEB) surrendered their weapons as part of peace negotiations with the government of Gustavo Petro.

According to El Mundo, the ceremony took place in the jungles in the south of the country. The surrender of weapons marked the first stage of the gradual reintegration of group members into civilian life in a special relocation zone.

Context of the peace process and reintegration

This step is viewed as the greatest result of the “full peace” policy promoted by President Petro, which envisages negotiations with illegal armed groups.

According to AP, the group’s leader Giovanni Andrés Rohas, who is being held in custody on drug-trafficking charges, spoke via video link during the ceremony and said that the rebels have renounced armed struggle.

Monitoring and safety of relocation

Last week the government established a monitoring mechanism for the temporary relocation zone and suspended offensive military and police operations to ensure the relocation of the rebels to the zone.

Analysts estimate that there are about 27,000 members of illegal armed groups currently operating in Colombia.

As reported, on June 21 in Colombia the second round of the presidential election will be held. The left-wing Iván Cepeda, who promises to continue Petro’s initiative toward “full peace,” will compete against the right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella.

Future steps in the peace process will remain under close scrutiny by experts and the public, on whom the ongoing dynamics of the negotiations will depend.