Background: Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A 40-year insurgent campaign to overthrow the Colombian Government escalated during the 1990s, undergirded in part by funds from the drug trade. Although the violence is deadly and large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence, the movement lacks the military strength or popular support necessary to overthrow the government. An anti-insurgent army of paramilitaries has grown to several thousand strong in recent years, challenging the insurgents for control of territory and the drug trade, and also the government's ability to exert its dominion over rural areas. While Bogota steps up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders.
July 4th 2007South America » Colombia » Riohacha We tried to make it to the Venezuelan boarder but time and the heat prevented it. We found a hotel, near to where the collectivos leave for the boarder. The earliest one left at 6 am so planned to b ... [full story]
November 19th 2007South America » Colombia » Riohacha Nous etions donc partis a la conquete du bout du bout de la Colombie et effectivement c etait bien le bout du bout : voyage tres long et penible, pour finalement le bout du monde, cad pas grand chose. ... 12 photos[full story]
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