The armed groups have reportedly killed at least about 160 people in central Nigeria in a series of attacks on villages. This is said to be 10 times who were the first 16 who were first reported being killed by the Army in a region that's long been riddled by religious and ethnic tensions.

Nigeria: Armed groups attacks, kill at least 160 in Central Nigeria

Colombian President Gustavo Petro, in his New Year's Eve announcement, said that his government has reached a six-month ceasefire deal with the country's five largest armed groups.&nbsp;Making the truce was the main goal of the president's "total peace" policy, which is aimed at ending armed conflict within the country that has continued even after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was dissolved in 2017.

"We have agreed to a bilateral ceasefire with the ELN, the Second Marquetalia, the Central General Staff, the AGC and the Self-Defence Forces of the Sierra Nevada from January 1 to June 30, 2023, extendable depending on progress in the negotiations," tweeted Petro.

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"This is a bold act. The bilateral ceasefire obliges the armed organisations and the state to respect it. There will be a national and international verification mechanism,” he further wrote.

The groups entering the ceasefire deal include&nbsp;leftist guerrilla group like the National Liberation Army (ELN) along with dissident groups which are being operated by former members of the now-demobilised Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Estado Mayor Central and Segunda Marquetalia.

The Colombian government, in a separate statement, stated that multiple letters were received from the church, society and other community organisations with an appeal to end the violence.

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The government said that a specific decree would be issued for each organisation, which will specify the conditions and durations of the ceasefire. The ceasefire deal will end on June 30, but can be extended.&nbsp;

Even after efforts made by the government to negotiate with different armed groups in Colombia, so far it has not been successful in containing the violence that engulfs the country.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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Colombian President Gustavo Petro, in his New Year's Eve announcement, said that his government has reached a six-month ceasefire deal with the country's five largest armed groups.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro, in his New Year's Eve announcement, said that his government has reached a six-month ceasefire deal with the country's five largest armed groups. Making the truce was the main goal of the president's "total peace" policy, which is aimed at ending armed conflict within the country that has continued even after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was dissolved in 2017. "We have agreed to a bilateral ceasefire with the ELN, the Second Marquetalia, the Central General Staff, the AGC and the Self-Defence Forces of the Sierra Nevada from January 1 to June 30, 2023, extendable depending on progress in the negotiations," tweeted Petro. ALSO READ | Colombia: Dissidents of guerrilla group FARC announce temporary truce "This is a bold act. The bilateral ceasefire obliges the armed organisations and the state to respect it. There will be a national and international verification mechanism,” he further wrote. The groups entering the ceasefire deal include leftist guerrilla group like the National Liberation Army (ELN) along with dissident groups which are being operated by former members of the now-demobilised Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Estado Mayor Central and Segunda Marquetalia. The Colombian government, in a separate statement, stated that multiple letters were received from the church, society and other community organisations with an appeal to end the violence. WATCH | Gravitas: Colombia elects former guerrilla rebel as President The government said that a specific decree would be issued for each organisation, which will specify the conditions and durations of the ceasefire. The ceasefire deal will end on June 30, but can be extended. Even after efforts made by the government to negotiate with different armed groups in Colombia, so far it has not been successful in containing the violence that engulfs the country. (With inputs from agencies)

Colombia government finalises six-month ceasefire deal with five armed groups

At least 10 armed groups in Colombia, including former members of the FARC rebels who reject a peace deal and the Clan del Golfo crime gang, have agreed to participate in unilateral ceasefires, the government said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

President Gustavo Petro, who took office in August, has promised to seek "total peace" with armed groups, fully implementing a 2016 peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and meeting with dissidents and gangs.&nbsp;

"Each group with its own identity, nature and motivation is expressing its disposition to be part of a total peace, in this exploration phase we've asked them not to kill, not to disappear people and not to torture," Danilo Rueda, the government's high peace commissioner, told journalists at an impromptu press conference. "We are moving ahead."&nbsp;

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Among the groups are two FARC dissident groups - the Estado Mayor Central and Segunda Marquetalia - as well as the Clan del Golfo, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Auto-Defenses and others Rueda did not name.&nbsp;

Illegal armed groups in Colombia - whose six-decade conflict has killed at least 450,000 people - count some 6,000 fighters in their ranks, according to security sources.&nbsp;

Leftist rebels and crime gangs both participate in extortion, murder, drug trafficking and illegal gold mining.&nbsp;

Petro - himself a former member of the urban M-19 guerrilla - has said his government could offer reduced sentences to gang members who hand over ill-gotten assets and give information about drug trafficking.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-and-pacific-island-nations-agree-to-declaration-of-partnership-says-blinken-520760">United States and Pacific island nations agree to ‘declaration of partnership’</a>

"The office of peace is exploring the judicial mechanisms to permit the transition of armed groups to rule of law," said Rueda, who previously met with FARC dissidents.&nbsp;read more&nbsp;

Petro also wants to restart Havana-based peace talks with largest active rebel group the National Liberation Army (ELN), which were called off by his predecessor, and Rueda traveled there soon after the inauguration.&nbsp;

The ELN favors a bilateral ceasefire to pave the way for renewed talks, its top negotiator told Reuters this month.&nbsp;read more&nbsp;

The government has said it will suspend aerial bombings of armed groups in a bid to avoid collateral damage to civilians and deaths of forcibly recruited minors.&nbsp;

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At least 10 armed groups in Colombia, including former members of the FARC rebels who reject a peace deal and the Clan del Golfo crime gang, have agreed to participate in unilateral ceasefires, the government said on Wednesday.

At least 10 armed groups in Colombia, including former members of the FARC rebels who reject a peace deal and the Clan del Golfo crime gang, have agreed to participate in unilateral ceasefires, the government said on Wednesday. President Gustavo Petro, who took office in August, has promised to seek "total peace" with armed groups, fully implementing a 2016 peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and meeting with dissidents and gangs. "Each group with its own identity, nature and motivation is expressing its disposition to be part of a total peace, in this exploration phase we've asked them not to kill, not to disappear people and not to torture," Danilo Rueda, the government's high peace commissioner, told journalists at an impromptu press conference. "We are moving ahead." Also read | More than 1.8 million without power as Hurricane Ian causes havoc in Florida Among the groups are two FARC dissident groups - the Estado Mayor Central and Segunda Marquetalia - as well as the Clan del Golfo, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Auto-Defenses and others Rueda did not name. Illegal armed groups in Colombia - whose six-decade conflict has killed at least 450,000 people - count some 6,000 fighters in their ranks, according to security sources. Leftist rebels and crime gangs both participate in extortion, murder, drug trafficking and illegal gold mining. Petro - himself a former member of the urban M-19 guerrilla - has said his government could offer reduced sentences to gang members who hand over ill-gotten assets and give information about drug trafficking. Also read | United States and Pacific island nations agree to ‘declaration of partnership’ "The office of peace is exploring the judicial mechanisms to permit the transition of armed groups to rule of law," said Rueda, who previously met with FARC dissidents. read more Petro also wants to restart Havana-based peace talks with largest active rebel group the National Liberation Army (ELN), which were called off by his predecessor, and Rueda traveled there soon after the inauguration. The ELN favors a bilateral ceasefire to pave the way for renewed talks, its top negotiator told Reuters this month. read more The government has said it will suspend aerial bombings of armed groups in a bid to avoid collateral damage to civilians and deaths of forcibly recruited minors.

Colombia says 10 armed groups agree to unilateral ceasefire

A bombardment carried out by Colombia's armed forces killed 23 FARC dissidents on Thursday as part of a military offensive to seize control of an area in the northeast of the country that sits on the border with Venezuela, the government said.

Dissident members of the demobilised Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rejected a 2016 peace deal with the government. The dissidents have become a security threat, according to the government, which accuses them of murdering community leaders and civilians.

According to Defense Minister Diego Molano, military planes and helicopters took part in the bombardment in the municipality of Puerto Rondon, in Colombia's Arauca province. He said Jorge Eliecer Jimenez, known as Arturo, the FARC dissident commander in Arauca, was among the dead.

At a news conference at the site of the operation, Molano said the following: "Colombia and Arauca have been liberated from a criminal, from a FARC-dissident leader of the FARC dissidents to bring more security, more peace, and better protect the people of Arauca," Molano said in a news conference at the site of the operation.

Arauca, which plays an important role in Colombia's oil and cattle ranching industries, has seen growing violence in which more than 60 people have died so far this year, according to Colombia's human rights ombudsman.

FARC dissidents allied with the leftist-guerrilla National Liberation Army (ELN) are fighting for control of drug-trafficking in the region against a rival FARC dissident group led by Arturo.

The government in Bogota accuses Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro of harboring FARC dissidents and members of the ELN who cross the border to launch attacks in Colombia, something Maduro has repeatedly denied.

A bombardment carried out by Colombia's armed forces killed 23 FARC dissidents on Thursday as part of a military offensive to seize control of an area in the northeast of the country that sits on the border with Venezuela, the government said.

A bombardment carried out by Colombia's armed forces killed 23 FARC dissidents on Thursday as part of a military offensive to seize control of an area in the northeast of the country that sits on the border with Venezuela, the government said. Dissident members of the demobilised Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rejected a 2016 peace deal with the government. The dissidents have become a security threat, according to the government, which accuses them of murdering community leaders and civilians. According to Defense Minister Diego Molano, military planes and helicopters took part in the bombardment in the municipality of Puerto Rondon, in Colombia's Arauca province. He said Jorge Eliecer Jimenez, known as Arturo, the FARC dissident commander in Arauca, was among the dead. At a news conference at the site of the operation, Molano said the following: "Colombia and Arauca have been liberated from a criminal, from a FARC-dissident leader of the FARC dissidents to bring more security, more peace, and better protect the people of Arauca," Molano said in a news conference at the site of the operation. Arauca, which plays an important role in Colombia's oil and cattle ranching industries, has seen growing violence in which more than 60 people have died so far this year, according to Colombia's human rights ombudsman. FARC dissidents allied with the leftist-guerrilla National Liberation Army (ELN) are fighting for control of drug-trafficking in the region against a rival FARC dissident group led by Arturo. The government in Bogota accuses Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro of harboring FARC dissidents and members of the ELN who cross the border to launch attacks in Colombia, something Maduro has repeatedly denied.

Colombia says at least 23 FARC dissidents killed in operation

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