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- Colombia's Marxist rebel group the FARC has announced a unilateral, indefinite ceasefire. In a statement on its website, the group announced that it hopes the ceasefire will "transform into an armistice" — thus potentially ending a war that has raged in Colombia for 50 years.
- The war between the FARC and the Colombian government has been going on since 1964, making it the longest-running armed conflict in the Americas. It is estimated that the conflict has killed 220,000 people and displaced 5.7 million. It has been a source of tremendous national trauma for Colombians.
- The FARC and the Colombian government have been holding peace negotiations for the past two years, brokered by the Cuban government. The talks had broken down last month following FARC's kidnapping of a Colombian general and two civilians, but re-started after FARC released them weeks later. Today's announcement is a sign that the talks may be headed for a final resolution and for peace.
