OVERVIEW

FARC-EP flag

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia–People’s Army (FARC-EP) is one of Colombia’s most powerful violent dissident groups. Many members of the new FARC-EP rejected the peace agreement signed in 2016 between the Colombian Government and the former FARC, which had waged decades of attacks in Colombia since its founding in 1964. The FARC-EP seeks to control critical areas of Colombia, particularly those associated with drug trafficking. Since at least 2019, the group has been responsible for most of the FARC dissident (FARC-D) attacks in Colombia. The FARC-EP has engaged in numerous armed confrontations with Colombian authorities, as well as the Segunda Marquetalia—a rival FARC-D faction.

OPERATING AREAS
Operates mainly in southern and northeastern Colombia; some members reside in Venezuela

MEMBERS
Approximately 2,000 fighters

TACTICS AND TARGETS
The FARC-EP conducts armed assaults, assassinations, extortion operations, and hostage-takings. The group focuses most of its attacks on Colombian Government and military targets but also attacks critical infrastructure, Colombia’s civilian population, and—occasionally—US military personnel in the country. The FARC-EP equips its members with small arms, machineguns, mines, and IEDs.

FOREIGN TERRORIST GROUP DESIGNATION
The US State Department designated the FARC-EP as a foreign terrorist organization in November 2021. That same month, the State Department also named Nestor Gregorio Vera Fernandez, a.k.a. Ivan Mordisco; now-deceased Miguel Santanilla Botache, a.k.a. Gentil Duarte; and Euclides Espana Caicedo, a.k.a. Jhon Fredey Henao Munoz, as Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

KEY LEADERS

NOTABLE ATTACKS