About 100 guerrillas laid down their weapons on Thursday in a jungle area in southern Colombia under an agreement with leftist President Gustavo Petro, who has pushed efforts to reach peace with armed rebel groups, AFP reported.
A total of 99 members of the National Coordinating Committee of the Bolivarian Army surrendered their arms in Putumayo province, three days before a runoff election that will decide Colombia’s next president.
The move marks the most significant progress so far in Petro’s “total peace” initiative, after earlier attempts to secure agreements with armed groups failed.
Wearing camouflage, the fighters placed their rifles inside a large container marked with the slogan: “I bet on life, I fulfill my commitment to peace.”
Authorities said the gesture represents an initial step towards formal talks on disarmament and the group’s legal status.
The guerrillas broke away from the former FARC rebel group, which disarmed in 2016 after more than five decades of conflict with the government.
They remain the only armed group currently making progress in negotiations under Petro’s peace programme.
“It is a very strong and powerful message for Colombian society at this time when there is so much noise about war,” said Armando Novoa, head of the government’s peace delegation for the group.
The future of Petro’s “total peace” policy now faces uncertainty.
Colombians will vote on Sunday in a presidential runoff between Petro ally Senator Ivan Cepeda, who supports continuing the peace process, and far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, who opposes it.
Petro is scheduled to hand over power to the winner on 7 August.
