In a late-night breakthrough just days before Christmas, 18 soldiers who had been held captive for more than 36 hours in the dense jungles of Choco, northwestern Colombia, were released unharmed on Monday.
The uniformed members of the National Army’s 15th Brigade began their return to Quibdo, the departmental capital, late Monday night, following a tense four-hour humanitarian mediation.
The release, finalized around 11:00 p.m., was secured through a dialogue table led by the Ombudsman’s Office (Defensoria del Pueblo), with support from the Catholic Church, the Choco Governorate, and local mayoral authorities. The soldiers were declared to be in good health upon their release.
The captured soldiers were conducting security and control operations in Choco, targeting ELN
The ordeal began on Sunday, Dec. 21, in the rural reaches of Carmen de Atrato. According to the National Army, the unit was conducting security and control operations targeting the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas when they were intercepted at the La Puria reservation.
The troops were surrounded by a crowd of approximately 200 people from the Embera Katio Indigenous community. Under pressure from the multitude, the soldiers were moved deeper into the territory and held against their will.
#LibérenlosYa | Seguimos exigiendo la liberación inmediata de nuestros soldados de la #Brigada15, que fueron secuestrados en zona rural de Carmen de Atrato, #Chocó.
Reiteramos el respeto por su vida, su integridad y su dignidad. Ellos son servidores de la patria que cumplen… pic.twitter.com/CnTTPiVRJU
— Ejército Nacional de Colombia (@COL_EJERCITO) December 22, 2025
The military high command and local government issued statements rejecting the “forced retention” of the troops, emphasizing that the incident hindered operations against illegal armed groups.
The instrumentalization of rural communities in Colombia is becoming a major issue for law enforcement
Monday’s release highlights a growing and complex trend in the Colombian conflict: the “instrumentalization” of remote communities by armed players. According to authorities, guerrillas and drug traffickers frequently coerce inhabitants of rural zones to physically block security forces from conducting operations.
This incident follows similar patterns seen earlier this year. In August, 34 soldiers were held by farmers in the department of Guaviare, and in September, another 45 troops faced a similar fate in Cauca. In both prior instances, humanitarian missions were required to negotiate the troops’ freedom.
The detention of the 18 soldiers occurred against a backdrop of contradictory signals regarding peace. The incident occurred on the same day ELN announced a unilateral ceasefire for the holiday season.
While the guerrilla group pledged to halt offensive actions from midnight on Dec. 24 through Jan. 3, 2026, the days leading up to the announcement have been marked by intimidation and attacks in various regions. The soldiers held in Choco were specifically deployed to counter ELN activities when they were captured.