FARC dissidents release 5 hostages in Colombia

BOGOTA, Colombia

Two prosecutors and three other people who were kidnapped last week by members of a dissident group of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have been released.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro, through his official social media account X, shared a photo on Sunday confirming the release of the five individuals.

They had been handed over to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and assured that they were in good health.

In a statement, the Central General Staff (EMC), made up of former FARC members, thanked the ICRC, the UN Verification Mission in Colombia and the Ombudsman's Office for their facilitative roles in establishing dialogue channels with the Colombian government.

The five individuals were abducted by members of the Dagoberto Ramos Front affiliated with the EMC while traveling in their vehicles in a rural area in the Cauca administrative region.

More than 50 years of conflict between the Colombian government and FARC officially ended with a peace agreement signed by then-Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and former FARC leader Rodrigo Londono at the historic Colon Theater in Bogota on Nov. 24, 2016.

Despite the peace agreement between the government and the FARC, some former commanders and members of the group who disagreed with the organization continue to engage in armed activities.

Members of the EMC, led by Nestor Gregorio Vera, also known as Ivan Mordisco, did not participate in the peace agreement signed with the government and have continued their attacks.

According to the country's press, the EMC, which has more than 3,500 members, including 2,180 armed members, operates in western, central and eastern Colombia as well as in Venezuela and Ecuador.

The group finances its activities through drug trafficking, smuggling and extortion.