Country Report on Terrorism 2021 - Chapter 4 - Terrorist Safe Havens - Colombia

Rough terrain and dense forest cover, combined with low population densities and historically weak government presence, define Colombia’s borders with Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.  Historically, these conditions have allowed terrorist groups — particularly Segunda Marquetalia, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP), and the National Liberation Army (ELN) — to operate.  The 2016 peace accord between the Government of Colombia and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) led to the demobilization of the majority of FARC combatants and the FARC’s conversion into a political party.  However, ongoing challenges to peace accord implementation and continued security vacuums have created risk for terrorist activity and attacks on civilians, security forces, and infrastructure in some areas in 2021.  A troubling number of FARC members refused to demobilize, estimated at around 2,600 individuals who chose not to participate in the peace process or who have subsequently joined the dissident ranks of the Segunda Marquetalia and FARC-EP.  They continued engaging in terrorist and other criminal activities, particularly in border regions and areas previously controlled by the FARC.

The ELN perpetrated armed attacks across the country in 2021.  The government was not known to support or facilitate the proliferation or trafficking of WMD in or through its territory.

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