On Sunday, the United States Embassy in Bogota warned American citizens to avoid traveling to several parts of Colombia and to exercise extreme caution after the guerrilla group ELN announced a 72-hour nationwide “paro armado”, a campaign of armed disruption, set to run from 6 a.m. local time on Dec. 14 through 6 a.m. Dec. 17.
In a security alert, the embassy specifically advised U.S. nationals not to travel to Arauca, Cauca (except Popayan), Norte de Santander, or the border region with Venezuela. It urged travelers to reconsider trips elsewhere in the country. The notice also warned Americans not to confront armed individuals, to avoid crowds, to keep a low profile, and to monitor local media for developments.
The National Liberation Army, known by its Spanish initials ELN, said in a statement that the action was a protest against what it called a “neocolonial plan” by the administration of President Donald Trump in the Caribbean. The group said it would respect civilians and civilian property but cautioned that civilians should not “mix” with military forces to “avoid accidents.”
The US has long designated Colombia’s ELN as a foreign terrorist organization
The U.S. government has long designated ELN as a foreign terrorist organization. The insurgency is active across wide areas of Colombia. The nongovernmental group Insight Crime says ELN operates in at least 231 municipalities across 19 of the country’s 32 departments and in parts of Venezuela.
During past “paros armados,” ELN has restricted river and road traffic, ordered business closures, limited civilian movement, and carried out threats and attacks against those who do not comply, authorities and analysts say. This weekend, the guerrilla’s Urban War Front said it would back the stoppage and singled out six cities for threats: Cucuta, Barrancabermeja, Medellin, Bogota, Cali, and Popayan.
President Gustavo Petro condemned the move. “You do not protest against anyone by killing peasants and depriving them of their freedom,” Petro said, accusing ELN of acting to benefit criminal networks rather than a political cause.
Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez Suarez said the military and police had mobilized “all capacities” to confront the stoppage, calling the ELN’s action a criminal constraint on communities. “The drug cartels and ELN terrorism persist in threatening the Colombian people, our communities, children, women, and farmers,” Sanchez said in a statement.
The U.S. Embassy urged Americans to maintain a high level of vigilance, to avoid demonstrations, and to follow instructions from local authorities. The advisory also recommended that U.S. citizens enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive security updates.
In some regions, local officials have activated permanent security councils and urged residents to remain indoors while authorities coordinate responses. The full scope and local impact of the three-day action remained unclear as the country braced for possible disruptions.