Colombia steps up peace process ahead of vote

Colombia’s government and its number two rebel group announced that they have been holding exploratory peace talks, fueling hopes that the Andean nation’s two long-enduring guerrilla conflicts could soon end.

The announcement came just five days ahead of presidential elections in which not just President Juan Manuel Santos’ political fate but also that of his 18-month-old negotiations with Colombia’s main insurgency hang in the balance.

His opponents however called the announcement a political ploy.


Source: Washington Post