The leftist guerrilla group ELN has announced a unilateral ceasefire ahead of the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in Colombia, signaling their intention to allow the populace to vote in a 'free' environment. In their statement, the group did not specify when the ceasefire would commence, highlighting their desire to create conditions that would enable safe electoral participation for the Colombian citizens.

This declaration comes after a spike in violence and intimidation directed at political figures in Colombia, particularly impacting candidates and their supporters. For instance, Senator Aida Quilcué was kidnapped in February but released hours later, and during a speech in Bogotá, presidential candidate Miguel Uribe was shot, later succumbing to his injuries. These incidents illustrate the precarious security situation as the country approaches its parliamentary elections on March 8 and presidential elections on May 31.

President Gustavo Petro recently suspended peace negotiations with the ELN due to increasing violence and attacks in the northeastern regions of Colombia. This cessation of talks adds further complexity to the situation as voters prepare for elections amidst threats to their safety, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the potential for additional unrest as the election dates draw nearer.