Colombia

Assessment

De la Espriella's offensive against the armed groups has continued without pause since Resolucion Ejecutiva 391 of Sept 11 revoked the government delegations to the ELN, the Clan del Golfo and the other tables and stripped those groups of political status. On Sept 15 he confirmed that army Gaula units had freed eight people kidnapped by the ELN in rural Convencion, Norte de Santander, in an operation he said was carried out with United States assistance, and the same day announced the capture of seven alleged members of the 'Cordillera' organisation in Dosquebradas, Risaralda. Colombia was still awaiting the US anti-drug certification determination, statutorily due on Sept 15, after Rubio said in Barranquilla on Sept 8 that the new government's cooperation is different from the past but that this year's assessment covers the previous twelve months under Petro. Airstrikes have resumed, Colombia has joined the US-led hemispheric counter-cartel coalition, and a 100-day surrender ultimatum to armed groups lapses around Nov 15.