Colombia, a nation with a long history of violence and instability, continues to grapple with the legacies of its civil war in 2025. Despite the 2016 peace deal with the FARC, the country remains in a state of perpetual conflict. Armed groups, including FARC dissidents, the ELN, paramilitary factions, and the Clan de Golfo, continue to fight for control of Colombia’s resources, primarily driven by the ever-lucrative drug trade.
The peace that was so eagerly sought remains elusive, as Colombia’s rural areas remain under siege by armed groups and the state’s grip on power weakens.
The Roots of the Conflict: A History of Struggle and Inequality
The Colombian Civil War did not begin overnight. It is the product of decades, if not centuries, of inequality, political violence, and social injustice. The roots can be traced back to the La Violencia period of the 1940s and 1950s, a time when Colombia’s two major political parties, the Liberals and Conservatives, engaged in brutal conflict that left hundreds of thousands dead.
This period of political bloodshed laid the groundwork for the rise of armed insurgent groups like the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and ELN (National Liberation Army) in the 1960s. These groups, inspired by Marxist-Leninist ideology, sought to overthrow the Colombian government, which they saw as a puppet of the United States and the elite.
As the drug trade grew in the 1980s, both the FARC and ELN became heavily involved in cocaine trafficking, which provided them with vast financial resources and further fueled the violence. By the 1990s, Colombia had become the epicenter of the global drug trade, and the conflict intensified as the Colombian government, with the support of the U.S., launched aggressive military campaigns to dismantle the guerrilla groups.
The 2016 Peace Deal: A Hope Dashed
The 2016 peace deal with the FARC, brokered by the Colombian government and the guerrilla group itself, was seen as a historic moment. The agreement promised to end more than five decades of war, and was hailed by many as a breakthrough in Colombia’s long struggle. However, the peace deal was not without its flaws. For one, it did not address the underlying social issues that fueled the war—land inequality, poverty, and the deep-rooted corruption within the state. Moreover, it failed to bring about a complete cessation of violence.
A significant portion of the FARC, led by former commanders like Iván Márquez and Jesús Santrich, rejected the peace agreement and rearmed, forming what is now known as the Second Marquetalia and La Nueva Marquetalia. These dissident factions, along with the ELN, have continued to wage war against the Colombian state, particularly in the rural areas where the government’s presence is weak.
Cuba’s Role: A Peace Broker or a Double-Edged Sword?
The Cuban government, under Raúl Castro, played a significant role in brokering the 2016 peace deal. Cuba, with its own history of revolutionary struggle and its position as a regional power, provided a neutral ground for peace talks between the Colombian government and the FARC. However, Cuba’s involvement has been a source of controversy. While they facilitated dialogue, they also maintained ties with other rebel groups, including the ELN, which continued their insurgency after the peace deal.
Cuba’s role in the peace process has been seen as both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it helped bring the warring parties to the table. On the other, Cuba’s continued support for insurgent groups has been viewed as a double-edged sword, complicating the peace process and leading to accusations of hypocrisy. The question remains: did Cuba’s involvement truly serve Colombia’s peace or was it part of a larger regional struggle?
The Current State of the Conflict: FARC Dissidents, ELN, and the Paramilitaries
In 2025, the FARC dissidents—Second Marquetalia and La Nueva Marquetalia—remain central to the ongoing conflict. These groups, numbering in the thousands, are heavily involved in the cocaine trade, and their presence is felt in the Putumayo, Caquetá, and Meta regions. They continue to clash with government forces and rival armed groups, vying for control over drug production zones. The leadership of figures like Iván Márquez and Jesús Santrich, who were once central to the FARC’s political wing, has ensured that these factions remain a potent force in Colombia’s rural regions.
The ELN, with approximately 2,000 to 3,000 fighters, continues to be a major player in the conflict. Their stronghold is in the Chocó, Norte de Santander, and Cesar regions, where they control key oil pipelines and other resources. The ELN remains committed to its Marxist-Leninist ideology, and its fighters engage in guerrilla tactics, bombings, and kidnappings. Despite multiple rounds of peace talks, the ELN has shown little interest in laying down arms.
Smaller rebel groups like the EPL (People’s Liberation Army), which has about 1,000 fighters, and the Clan de Golfo, a paramilitary group with around 2,000 members, also remain active. The Clan de Golfo is heavily involved in the drug trade, and their operations extend beyond Colombia’s borders, where they have connections to international cartels. These groups often clash with the FARC dissidents and the ELN over control of cocaine production and trafficking routes.
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The Government’s Struggle: A Weak State in the Face of Powerful Foes
Despite years of military intervention, the Colombian government has struggled to assert control over vast swaths of rural territory. The government’s inability to address the root causes of the conflict—land inequality, poverty, and corruption—has allowed armed groups to thrive. While Colombia’s urban centers are relatively stable, the countryside remains a battleground, with armed groups controlling entire regions and the state’s military stretched thin.
Moreover, the government’s reliance on military solutions has led to accusations of human rights abuses, particularly in areas where paramilitary groups and government forces have been accused of colluding. The peace process, while a step forward, has failed to bring lasting peace, and Colombia remains locked in a vicious cycle of violence.
Conclusion: A War Without End
By 2025, Colombia’s civil war shows no sign of abating. The 2016 peace deal with the FARC has failed to bring about lasting peace, and dissident factions, the ELN, and paramilitary groups continue to wage war against the state. The government remains locked in a struggle for control, but the deep-rooted issues of inequality, corruption, and the drug trade remain unresolved.
Cuba’s role in the peace process, while instrumental, has also been controversial, with the island nation maintaining ties with other insurgent groups. The FARC dissidents, the ELN, and paramilitary groups like the Clan de Golfo continue to fight for control over Colombia’s resources, particularly its cocaine production. The war that began in the 1960s, fueled by ideological conflict, political violence, and the drug trade, shows no signs of ending in 2025. Colombia remains a nation in perpetual war, caught in a cycle of violence that seems unbreakable.