The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, appealed to the disputed forces in the world to announce a ceasefire for all State forces to mobilize against the coronavirus. This has been done by the guerrilla ELN, according to the journal Voces in its edition this year.

As the guerrillas have explained, the ceasefire is active “in order to defend itself against attacks by paramilitaries, drug traffickers and regular military forces that make up the State forces in different areas of the country”. In addition, the guerrillas have asked the Colombian President, Ivan Duque, to meet in Havana during that month to decree a bilateral ceasefire and to be able to continue the peace process.

The Government of Colombia has not been satisfied with the guerrillas' decision. The Colombian High Commissioner for Peace, Miguel Ceballos, has assured us that the decision is not enough to give continuity to the peace process. He added that the decision is late, as they have been immersed in the coronavirus crisis for “more than fifteen days”. And it puts conditions on the ELN to continue the peace processes: Cessation of “criminal activities” and the release of kidnapped persons.