ELN announces ceasefire for Colombia presidential elections

The National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas declared a unilateral ceasefire from May 25 to June 3 throughout Colombia "so that those who wish to vote may do so in peace" in the first round of the May 29 presidential elections.

"Before knowing who the winning candidate may be, we dare to create a new political moment by generating a better environment for the next election day on May 29," the armed group said in a statement published on its official website and signed by the national leadership.

A similar ceasefire has already been decreed for the March 13 legislative elections, with the ELN reserving "the right to defend ourselves in case we are attacked."

The guerrilla group also showed its willingness to "resume talks with the government of the president to be elected in the upcoming elections" to "work for peace" and "talk bluntly" about the armed conflict in the country, according to EFE.

"Now peace is not about these compromises between the oligarchy but about seeking alternatives for all Colombians, that a dialogue is opened where the majorities are allowed to be heard," the ELN said in the statement. The armed group claims that "a peace process with the ELN is the best opportunity to address priority issues" such as corruption or drug trafficking.

The current government of President Iván Duque made the continuation of peace talks with the ELN, initiated by his predecessor, Juan Manuel Santos, conditional from the outset on the guerrillas renouncing all criminal activity, kidnappings, and releasing all their captives.

In January 2019, five months after Duque's inauguration, the possibility of dialogue was halted after ELN attacked the General Santander Police School in Bogotá, which left 22 cadets dead, including an Ecuadorian woman, and more than 60 wounded.

The Santos government's peace talks with the ELN began in 2017 in Quito, aimed at ending decades of internal conflict with the country's largest guerrilla group after the demobilization of the FARC, and were then moved to Havana where they broke down.

Colombia will elect Duque's successor on May 29 in an election in which leftist Gustavo Petro is the favorite in the polls. It is likely that he will have to face Federico "Fico" Gutierrez on June 19.

Resuming negotiations with the ELN has been one of the most debated points during the presidential race in the country. Petro and other candidates such as Sergio Fajardo or Rodolfo Hernández are "open to sit at the table."