Colombian President Gustavo Petro says he will declare an emergency over the guerrilla attacks in the northeast that have killed dozens of people and forced thousands to flee

The clashes between rival guerrilla groups have left 80 dead as Colombia braces for cutbacks in U.S. foreign aid under President Trump.

I want to thank you for helping my America, my Colombia, achieve freedom,” he said. “You even gave us our flag.”

Colombia is battling its worst security crisis in a decade after a series of guerrilla attacks in the north of the country have left at least 80 people dead and displaced 36,000 others.

Colombia's attorney general's office on Wednesday reissued arrest warrants for leaders of the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels, who had been participating in peace talks, as forced displacement caused by ELN attacks rose to 32,

Colombia called on neighboring Venezuela Thursday to help tackle guerrillas blamed for a week of bloody violence that has displaced 40,000 people in the lawless border region.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Thursday that he has been in contact with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to implement an action plan to prevent armed groups from crossing the border, following a week of violent clashes that authorities estimate have left between 60 and 80 dead.

President Gustavo Petro will appoint top aide, 30-year-old Laura Sarabia, as Colombia’s next foreign affairs minister, one the youngest-ever officials to assume the role.

Colombia’s government is reactivating arrest orders for the top leadership of the nation’s largest rebel group

This was the country's deadliest wave of violence since the peace accords set by President Gustavo Petro in 2016

More than 8,000 civilians fled the violence, with many seeking shelter in government facilities or hiding in the mountains.