The third round of peace talks between the Colombian government and ELN rebels, due to begin in Havana on Wednesday, has been rescheduled for May 2, host Cuba’s foreign minister said on Tuesday. At the same time, the country’s president reportedly demanded the resignation of all his ministers.

A new round of talks was due to begin on Wednesday in the Caribbean island, after a first round in Venezuela in November and a second round in Mexico in March.

The talks are part of an effort to end a six-decade-long civil war in Colombia. In the new cycle, the central issue is laying the foundations for a mutual ceasefire.

“We salute since May 2 the will and impartiality that are the tradition of Cuba as a guarantor country and an alternative seat (…) of the third cycle of the dialogue platform for peace between the Colombian government and the ELN,” he tweeted to Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez .

The delegation of the Colombian government “confirms its desire to make progress in this process,” was the reaction of the government’s Peace Subcommittee, which added that it appreciated Cuba’s “invaluable support.”

Although the ELN has been in peace talks with Bogotá since November, clashes between its militants and Colombian security forces have not stopped, especially in Guevara’s strongholds.

Recently, President Gustavo Petros announced that the armed forces of Colombia and Venezuela, unlike in the past, are now “united” against the ANO. The rebel organization, which will celebrate 60 years of armed struggle next year, operates on both sides of the border.

After years of tension between Bogota and Caracas, President Petro, elected in the summer and the first leftist in Colombian history, restored diplomatic relations with Venezuela.

His predecessor, conservative Ivan Duque (2018–2022), severed diplomatic relations between the two states in 2019 to force his Venezuelan socialist colleague Nicolás Maduro to step down and support opposition leader Juan Guaidó.

Mr. Duque has repeatedly complained that Venezuela offered support to the ELN and other rebel groups, especially dissident groups from the former FARC rebel group that reject the 2016 peace deal.

The negotiations that led to the signing of this historic agreement also took place in Havana.

shuffling

At the same time, Mr. Petros asked all ministers to resign in order to reshuffle the government. writes the newspaper El Tiempo, citing sources.

The publication notes that the decision of the head of state does not mean that all ministers will lose their posts. According to the source of the newspaper, the presidential administration is discussing the reorganization mainly in the ministries of foreign affairs, internal affairs and defense.

The government has yet to confirm plans for a cabinet reshuffle.

News of the upcoming reshuffle came after a committee vote on health care reform carried out by the executive branch.

Source: APE-MPE, TASS