Colombia opens dialogue with the country’s largest criminal faction in search of peace

“It is extremely important news, not only for the Gadthanist army, but for all of Colombia because it will first ensure neutrality, seriousness and commitment to what can be dialogue there, but it goes very well,” said Giraldo regarding the dialogue.

The group’s representative explained that Qatar was chosen as the conversation’s headquarters due to the country’s experience in mediating international conflicts, such as the United States and the Talibans of Afghanistan in 2020.

“Qatar was the only country that was not afraid to accept the largest illegal armed group that exists in Colombia, and would dares to say in Latin America,” said Giraldo.

According to Colombian military intelligence, the Gulf clan has 7,500 members, is the country’s largest illegal armed group and responsible for sending hundreds of tons of cocaine a year to the United States and Europe from Colombia, the largest producer of this drug.

The organization is also funded by the extortion, illegal mining and controls the passage of migrants through the dangerous Darién jungle between Colombia and Panama, according to official sources and experts.

“I can’t say that the EGC is the freirinhas of charity, nor the little pastors of Belém, but it is precisely because it is an illegal armed group that causes damage (…) that it is necessary to bet on this, to seek a solution to the conflict,” said Giraldo, according to whom the group has “over 13,000 men”.