Colombian conflict

Quick Facts: Who was Colombian conflict?

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Colombian conflict

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A protracted, low-intensity asymmetric war involving multiple armed factions in Colombia.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Colombian conflict (Spanish: Conflicto armado interno de Colombia, lit. 'Colombian internal armed conflict') began on May 27, 1964, and is a low-intensity asymmetric war between the government of Colombia, paramilitary groups, crime syndicates, and far-left guerrilla groups engaged in armed factional hostilities to increase their influence in Colombian territory. Some of the most important international contributors to the Colombian conflict include multinational corporations, the United States, Cuba, and the drug trafficking industry. The conflict is historically rooted in the conflict known as La Violencia, which was triggered by the 1948 assassination of liberal political leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán and in the aftermath of the anti-communist repression in rural Colombia in the 1960s that led Liberal and Communist militants to re-organize into the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The reasons for fighting vary from group to group.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The FARC and other guerrilla movements claim to be fighting for the rights of the impoverished in Colombia to protect them from government violence and to provide social justice through communism. The Colombian government claims to be fighting for order and stability, and to protect the rights and interests of its citizens. The paramilitary groups claim to be reacting to perceived threats by guerrilla movements. According to a study by Colombia's National Centre for Historical Memory, 220,000 people died in the conflict between 1958 and 2013, most of them civilians (177,307 civilians and 40,787 fighters), and more than five million civilians were forced from their homes between 1985 and 2012, generating the world's second-largest population of internally displaced persons (IDPs). 16.9% of the population in Colombia has been a direct victim of the war.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

2.3 million children have been displaced from their homes and 45,000 children have been killed, according to national figures cited by UNICEF. In total, one in three of the 7.6 million registered victims of the conflict are children and 8,000 minors have disappeared since 1985. A Special Unit was created to search for persons deemed as missing within the context of and due to the armed conflict. As of April 2022, the Single Registry of Victims reported 9,263,826 victims of the Colombian conflict, with 2,048,563 of them being children. Approximately 80% of those killed in the conflict have been civilians.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1948: 1948 Milestone — The conflict is historically rooted in the conflict known as La Violencia, which was triggered by the 1948 assassination of liberal political leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán and in the aftermath of the anti-communist repression in rural Colombia in the 1960s that led Liberal and Communist militants to re-organize into the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
2. 1958: 1958 Milestone — According to a study by Colombia's National Centre for Historical Memory, 220,000 people died in the conflict between 1958 and 2013, most of them civilians (177,307 civilians and 40,787 fighters), and more than five million civilians were forced from their homes between 1985 and 2012, generating the world's second-largest population of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
3. 1964: 1964 Milestone — 'Colombian internal armed conflict') began on May 27, 1964, and is a low-intensity asymmetric war between the government of Colombia, paramilitary groups, crime syndicates, and far-left guerrilla groups engaged in armed factional hostilities to increase their influence in Colombian territory.
4. 1985: 1985 Milestone — 6 million registered victims of the conflict are children and 8,000 minors have disappeared since 1985.
5. 2022: 2022 Milestone — As of April 2022, the Single Registry of Victims reported 9,263,826 victims of the Colombian conflict, with 2,048,563 of them being children.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Colombian conflict

True or False: “The Colombian conflict began immediately following the 1948 assassination of Jorge Eliécer Gaitán.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While the assassination was a major catalyst, the armed conflict itself is stated to have begun on May 27, 1964.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Adam Yauch — Historical peer (Born in 1964) (1964): Founding member of Beastie Boys; influential rapper, filmmaker, and Tibetan activist.
• A. Wyatt Tilby — Historical peer (Died in 1948) (1948): British author, journalist, and traveler known for his writings on history and philosophy.
• Abby Aldrich Rockefeller — Historical peer (Died in 1948) (1948): American socialite and influential philanthropist, key patron of modern art.
• Abhijeet Bhattacharya — Historical peer (Born in 1958) (1958): Veteran Indian playback singer known for Hindi, Bengali, and diverse regional music.
• Alec Baldwin — Historical peer (Born in 1958) (1958): Versatile American actor known for dramatic depth and comedic timing.
• Aaron Swartz — Historical peer (Died in 2013) (2013): Pioneering programmer, activist, and hacktivist known for RSS, Markdown, and progressive organizing.
• Ada Louise Huxtable — Historical peer (Died in 2013) (2013): Pioneering American architecture critic who elevated urban design to public discourse.
• Aiko Kayō — Historical peer (Born in 1985) (1985): Japanese singer and actress known for her work on the Avex Trax label.
• Alex Honnold — Historical peer (Born in 1985) (1985): Pioneering free solo climber, famous for conquering El Capitan.

Frequently Asked Questions about Colombian conflict