Insurgency-related kidnapping risks likely to remain moderate in Colombia's Antioquia, Chocó, and Norte de Santander departments
On 2 May, the head of Colombia's second-largest insurgent group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), Nicolás Rodríguez Bautista "Gabino", rejected a government ultimatum to end kidnappings before formal peace negotiations begin.
He argued that that the talks should begin without preconditions. Kidnapping risks have been steadily falling in Colombia since Colombia's largest insurgent group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), renounced the practice in 2012, shortly before their peace negotiations with the government began.
The Ministry of Defence registered 210 kidnappings in 2015, a 42% reduction on the 288 in 2014. There were 305 cases in 2012. Criminals rather than insurgents are now responsible for the majority of kidnappings in the country.
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