FARC dissidents

FARC dissidents (Spanish: Disidencias de las Farc), including the Carlos Patiño Front, are groups of people who were formerly part of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and have refused to lay down their arms after the Colombian peace process came into effect in 2016, or resumed their insurgency afterwards. In 2018, the dissidents numbered some 2,000 to 2,500 armed combatants with an unknown number of civilian militia supporting them. The FARC dissidents have become "an increasing headache" for the Colombian armed forces, as they have to fight them, the Popular Liberation Army (EPL), the National Liberation Army (ELN), and the Clan del Golfo at the same time.

FARC dissidents have been responsible for several attacks on the Colombian armed forces. These fighters are believed to be heavily involved in the production and sale of cocaine. In June 2020, it was revealed that the presence of FARC dissidents in northern Antioquia instigated a direct armed conflict with the Clan del Golfo known as Operation Mil. Currently, FARC-EP consists of more than 10 factions such as FARC-EP Central General Staff, FARC-EP Second Marquetalia, FARC-EP Border Commandos, FARC-EP Miller Perdomo Territorial Militia Front, FARC-EP United Guerrillas of the Pacific, FARC-EP People of Order, FARC-EP Loreto Front, FARC-EP Bolivarian Militias, FARC-EP Carlos Patiño Front.