ELN Rebels Lock Down Colombia, Blame Trump

The National Liberation Army (ELN), Colombia's largest active rebel group, has imposed a mandatory five-day lockdown on communities in a northern region. The group cited threats of "armed intervention" by former U.S. President Donald Trump as the reason. In a statement, the ELN said it was acting to protect civilians. It referred to recent comments by Trump, who vowed to designate the group as "terrorists" and said he would "do whatever has to be done" if elected again. The ELN called this a threat to Colombia's sovereignty. Colombian Defense Minister Iván Velásquez rejected the rebels' justification. He called the lockdown "nothing more than criminal coercion." He vowed that the military "will be everywhere – in every mountain, every jungle, every river" to counter the threat. The lockdown affects the rural areas of Bolívar and southern Cesar departments. Residents are forbidden from traveling on roads or rivers from June 21 to June 25. The ELN often uses such measures to show its control of territory. The group resumed peace talks with the government last year, but the process has been slow. This lockdown is seen as a major challenge to the state's authority during the ongoing ceasefire.