Escalating Violence by Armed Groups in Colombia's Catatumbo Region Displaces Thousands

Fierce fighting between armed groups, primarily the ELN and a FARC dissident faction (33rd Front), dramatically escalated violence and caused severe civilian abuses in Colombia's Catatumbo region near Venezuela in early 2025. Since January, an ELN offensive to regain territory has led to killings, assaults, kidnappings, and disappearances of civilians accused of ties to rivals. 

Human Rights Watch reported over 56,000 people displaced since January, one of Colombia's largest recent mass displacements. Abuses include the killings of unarmed farmers and forced child recruitment by the ELN. The Colombian government declared a state of emergency and deployed the military for evacuations, while HRW urged effective state protection policies. Control over drug production and trafficking routes fuels the conflict.

Source: HRW