Presidents of Colombia

BOGOTÁ, Colombia - The government of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the Army of National Liberation (ELN), the largest rebel faction in Colombia following the peace agreement reached with the FARC, have reached an unprecedented 102-day bilateral ceasefire as Pope Francis arrived in Colombia.

Colombia's government and ELN rebels have agreed to a ceasefire after months of talks, the rebels announced on Sept. 4. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos also confirmed the announcement and said that the government has agreed to a bilateral ceasefire with the ELN that will last 102 days.

Illustration - Photo: colombia-politics.com

The Congress formally ratified a revised peace agreement with Colombia's biggest leftist rebel group, capping a torturous four years of negotiations, a stunning referendum rejection, last-minute compromises and two signing ceremonies.

The Colombian Senate has approved a revised peace accord between the government and the FARC rebel group, taking a first step toward ratifying an agreement that was rejected by voters.

The text, which was renegotiated after an earlier version was given a thumbs down in the Oct. 2 national referendum, now must be approved by the lower house of the Colombian Congress.

A new peace accord between Colombia's government and Marxist FARC rebels will be signed on Nov. 24 and sent to Congress for approval, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Nov. 22, bringing a formal end to the 52-year civil war ever closer. 

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos postponed peace talks with the ELN rebels on Oct. 27 just hours before they were due to open, insisting they first release an ex-lawmaker being held hostage.

Santos said he remained committed to making peace but would not budge from his demand for the ELN to first free former congressman Odin Sanchez "safe and sound."

The Colombian government and the country's second-largest rebel group, the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN), announced Oct. 10 they would launch negotiations on Oct. 27 in Ecuador's capital, with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos predicting "total peace." 

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2016 has been awarded to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos for his efforts to end his country’s 50-year civil war. Juan Manuel Santos dedicated the Prize to victims of his country’s civil war, which he has worked to end through a peace accord with FARC rebels.

To the dismay of the Greek island folk, who were many considered as favourites to win the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts during the refugees crisis, the President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos was the winner of the prestigious award. Santos received the award for his efforts to end the 52-year conflict with left-wing rebels.