Colombian rebels declare unilateral ceasefire

OREANDA-NEWS. July 09, 2015. Colombia crippled crude transport could get back on its feet later this month after the rebel group Farc declared a month-long unilateral ceasefire.

The ceasefire would take effect on 20 July.

Farc have repeatedly bombed state-controlled Ecopetrol's midstream operations over the past 42 days after lifting a previous unilateral cease-fire on 26 May that lasted for 157 days.

Ecopetrol told Argus today that a force majeure on five export shipments of crude is still in effect because of downed pipelines.

The company said on 26 June it had declared force majeure on around 2mn bl of South Blend and Vasconia Norte crude shipments out of Pacific port Tumaco and Caribbean port Coves.

The government has been holding peace talks with the Farc in Havana since late 2012.

The Farc has repeatedly called on the government to refrain from military strikes under a proposed bilateral ceasefire.

There is no sign the government plans to halt strikes on rebel targets. "We appreciate the gesture of a unilateral ceasefire by the Farc, but more is needed, above all concrete commitments to accelerate the negotiations," President Juan Manuel Santos said.