![Confiscation of FARC weapons in 2013 / [Image by Policia Nacional de los Colombianos via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2017/6/29/660x290/b_502x220x82/confiscation-of-farc-weapons-in-2013-image-by-policia-nacional-de-los-colombianos-via-flickr-cc-by-sa-20_1420863.jpg "Confiscation of FARC weapons in 2013 / [Image by Policia Nacional de los Colombianos via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0]")
Since the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and National Liberation Army (ELN) formed in 1964, it's been reported that 260,000 people have been confirmed dead, 60,000 have gone missing and 7 million people have been displaced. Now, the fighting has finally come to an end with a peace deal cut by the liberal Columbian President Juan Manuel Santos. Santos had been wanting to work on a deal with the Farc Rebels for decades but the conditions were not right until 2016 when he vowed -- no matter the obstacle -- to make that peace deal.
The completion of a peace deal
It would take two tries, the first attempt at a peace deal was based on a public vote where a majority of Colombians disagreed with the conditions that would allow FARC rebels to integrate back into society without paying a price for decades of violence. The second attempt went forward with some adjustments that would pay fewer concessions to members of the group and their leaders but the deal was struck and now, as of last week, the rebel group officially finished disarming. But the ELN is still very much active and has admitted to the charges of kidnapping.
The group's chief negotiator Pablo Beltran spoke during the second round of talks that took place in Quito, Ecuador where he said that they were also working on conditions for a ceasefire.
Beltran also spoke on Caracol Radio where he said that they would be ready to stop kidnappings which is one of the conditions for a ceasefire. The ELN negotiator said that a ceasefire with their group would help bring humanitarian aid to the people in areas that are still considered "conflict zones". Pablo Beltran also said that they hoped they could complete their peace deal before Pope Francis came to visit in September.
Help from United Nations
On Friday, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Colombia, Jean Arnault, said at the United Nations Security Council that they would begin to work on other aspects of the peace agreement. Arnault was referring to the integration of FARC rebels but he too focused on areas in Colombia that were in need of humanitarian aid.
There is no doubt that reintegration of FARC fighters will be challenging as the Colombian people have shown that they are not quick to forgive. Arnault -- who has been given the task of reintegration -- told the security council that they would be focused on providing security to some of the fighters and to some areas to ensure a smooth process. The UN envoy will be working to unite the parties and bring confidence to many who are still reluctant.
