Petro finally has a ceasefire with ELN, what comes next?

The accord with the largest rebel group in Colombia is a much-needed victory in a process that has been plagued by setbacks

President Petro Gustavo, after 10 months and a series of stumbles and setbacks, finally has a symbolic victory in his “Total Peace” plan for Colombia — a bi-lateral ceasefire with the largest remaining rebel group in the country, the National Liberation Army (ELN).

The third round of peace talks in Havana between the Colombian government and the ELN ended on Friday, June 9. Negotiators from both sides, as well as the Colombian president, signed an agreement that provides a basic roadmap to peace-building, that included a 180-day ceasefire set to begin on August 3rd.

“This is a victory against violence,” said Petro, in a speech from the negotiating table. “There is no action more revolutionary than peace.”

The negotiators formally called on citizens to take part in the peace process via local tables meant to bring them into the process and incorporate them into peace-building efforts.

The ceasefire will be monitored by officials from the United Nations Colombian Mission, a step that Elizabeth Dickinson, senior Colombia analyst for the…