The Colombian authorities and one of the country's largest rebel groups, Segunda Marquetalia, have officially launched a peace process and confirmed the urgent need to develop provisional agreements for de-escalation of the conflict, a document released by the Colombian Office of the High Commissioner for Peace read.
"To officially initiate a process of socio-political dialogue, leading to signing a peace agreement between the Colombian government and the armed rebel organization, Segunda Marquetalia. To immediately develop provisional agreements for de-escalation of the conflict, for transformation of social and environmental territorial infrastructure, for defining an agenda and protocols of negotiations," the document read.
The deal was signed by the Colombian authorities and the rebel group on February 1.
President Gustavo Petro and his administration came to power in Colombia in the summer of 2022, vowing to achieve a comprehensive peace with the country's many rebel militias and paramilitary drug gangs, based on peace arrangements with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Until now, a full-fledged peace process has only been initiated with rebels from the National Liberation Army (ELN).