Ivan Marquez, a former senior commander of Colombia’s now-defunct FARC guerrilla group, made a surprising appearance in a video released Saturday, expressing his support for government proposals to initiate talks. Marquez, who played a significant role in negotiating the 2016 peace deal, had returned to armed conflict in 2019, leading a FARC faction known as Segunda Marquetalia.
Despite rumors circulating about his death following an attack in Venezuela in 2022, Colombian authorities confirmed his presence in the country in March. In the video snippet published by El Pais newspaper, Marquez can be seen wearing a T-shirt and glasses, though the authenticity of the recording could not be independently verified by AFP.
Marquez’s comments in the video endorse Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s proposal to establish a constituent assembly for a Bolivarian constitution in Colombia, reflecting a potential shift in his stance. The recording was reportedly presented during a peace forum in Colombia’s eastern region of Vichada.
Marquez, who participated in the negotiations in Havana leading to the 2016 ceasefire deal, reappeared in 2019, renouncing his civilian life and announcing a new rebellion. President Petro, Colombia’s first leftist leader, has been striving to resolve the country’s long-standing conflicts with guerrillas, paramilitaries, and drug gangs.
In February, Petro’s administration and Marquez’s Segunda Marquetalia announced the initiation of talks, although no specific date was provided.
