FARC

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was a Colombian Marxist guerrilla organization founded in 1964. Most of its members demobilized under the 2016 peace accord, while a faction continued armed activity.

La Violencia: A period of intense partisan violence in Colombia, generally dated from 1948 to 1958. Rural displacement and conflict during this period helped shape the conditions from which FARC arose.
Guerrilla warfare: Irregular warfare in which smaller forces use mobility, surprise, and local support against stronger opponents. FARC’s military strategy relied heavily on these methods.
Palace of Justice siege: A 1985 siege of Colombia’s Palace of Justice by the M-19 guerrilla movement, followed by a violent military retaking. The M-19 episode offers a distinct model of urban insurgency from FARC’s rural campaign.
FARC political party: A Colombian political party created by former FARC members after the 2016 peace agreement. It carried former combatants’ political project into electoral politics.
Marquetalia: A rural settlement in Colombia that became the site of a 1964 military operation against an autonomous peasant enclave. The attack on this enclave preceded FARC’s formal founding.
FARC–EP: The Spanish name used by FARC, Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia–Ejército del Pueblo. The Ejército del Pueblo designation reflected FARC’s claim to be a people’s army.
El Caguán peace process: Peace negotiations between the Colombian government and FARC held from 1999 to 2002. Their collapse preceded a prolonged escalation of military pressure on FARC.
Special Jurisdiction for Peace: A Colombian transitional justice tribunal established by the 2016 peace agreement. It investigates serious crimes committed during the conflict, including those attributed to FARC.
Manuel Marulanda: A Colombian guerrilla commander who co-founded FARC and led it for decades. He helped turn the Marquetalia group into a lasting insurgent organization.
FARC Secretariat: FARC’s top leadership body, which directed the organization and its military fronts. The Secretariat coordinated command across a decentralized guerrilla force.

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