Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Wednesday condemned the escalating violence in Colombia’s Catatumbo region, near the border with Venezuela, where armed groups have committed severe human rights abuses and displaced tens of thousands of residents.
The organization called for immediate measures to protect civilians and ensure accountability for the atrocities committed by these groups, including killings, kidnappings, forced disappearances, and recruitment of children. HRW boted that since January 2025, over 56,000 people have been forced to flee their homes due to intense confrontations between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), marking one of the largest mass displacements in recent Colombian history.
The ELN has intensified its campaign to regain territorial control in Catatumbo, targeting civilians suspected of ties to rival groups. Similarly, FARC dissidents have committed grave abuses such as forced labour and the recruitment of minors. HRW highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in the region, where displaced families face acute shortages of food, shelter, and medical care. The violence has also resulted in confinement for many communities, further compounding the crisis. HRW urged Colombian authorities to adopt effective security policies that respect human rights and called on international donors to provide humanitarian aid to affected populations.
The Catatumbo region is strategically significant due to its role in drug production and trafficking. For years, it has been a hotspot for armed conflict involving various groups vying for control over lucrative coca crops and smuggling routes. The ELN and FARC dissidents had maintained an uneasy coexistence since 2018 but resumed hostilities in January 2025. This resurgence of violence has disproportionately affected civilians, including social leaders and demobilized FARC combatants who were part of Colombia’s 2016 peace accord.
The region’s socioeconomic conditions exacerbate the crisis. Extreme poverty, lack of infrastructure, and limited access to basic services such as healthcare and education create a hostile environment for residents. Militarization efforts by both state forces and armed groups have further destabilized the area. While Colombian authorities have pledged to protect civilians, evacuation efforts remain insufficient to address the scale of displacement and ongoing risks.
Human rights organizations have long documented abuses in Catatumbo. Amnesty International (AI) has highlighted threats faced by social leaders and human rights defenders due to violence and militarization. Despite a temporary decrease in military activity following reduced coca eradication efforts in 2023, armed confrontations have intensified again. International bodies, including the United Nations and regional NGOs, continue to call for adherence to international humanitarian law by all parties involved.
The crisis underscores broader challenges in Colombia’s post-conflict era. Although the 2016 peace deal aimed to integrate former combatants into civilian life, many areas like Catatumbo remain plagued by violence due to unresolved territorial disputes and insufficient state presence. HRW’s appeal emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive solutions prioritising civilian protection while addressing underlying socio-economic vulnerabilities.
