Colombia's president announces peace process with FARC dissidents

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Monday announced the beginning of a peace process with dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerilla group.

"A second peace process begins. A (negotiating) table will be established between the government and the Central General Staff," Petro said on Twitter.

The decision comes after Attorney General Francisco Barbosa Delgado announced the suspension of arrest warrants for 19 dissidents led by Nestor Gregorio Vera Fernandez, alias “Ivan Mordisco,” one of the most important FARC commanders who rejected the 2016 peace deal between the Colombian government and the guerrilla group.

Former FARC members who refused to join the peace deal returned to arms in 2018.