On Wednesday, a faction of FARC refused to follow the historic peace deal, making it the first sign of opposition to an accord from within the rebel ranks. The Armando Rios First Front, a 200-guerrilla unit operating in Guaviare, stated: “We have decided not to demobilize, we will continue the fight for the taking of power by the people for the people, independent of the decision taken by the rest of the members of the organization”. It argues that the deals being reached in Cuba will not solve the social and economic problems which were the primary motivations for the group to take arms in 1964.

The Armando Rios First Front said it would respect any FARC rebels who agree to peace, however, it called upon other units to join them and continue the fight. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said on Wednesday that “Anyone with doubts, best leave them aside and join the peace accord, because it’s the last opportunity they will have to change their lives, because otherwise, they will end up, I assure you, in a grave or jail”.

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On Thursday, June 23rd, Colombia’s government and FARC agreed to end hostilities with a definitive cease-fire, putting an end to the longest-running conflict in the Western Hemisphere. Colombia remains subject to an economic, social and political crisis. The country’s FARC Conflict, which bred from this crisis, deepened the state’s already critical situation.