Colombia agrees to a ceasefire with guerrillas

Colombia’s government and the ELN, the country’s last active guerrilla group, have agreed to a ceasefire after months of talks, both sides announced yesterday.

It was a major step towards an end to Latin America’s longest-running civil conflict, and comes on the eve of a visit to the country by Pope Francis.

“Yes, it was possible,” the ELN delegation said in a tweet announcing the deal. Juan Manuel Santos, Colombia’s president, said in a televised address that the ceasefire would come into effect on October 1.