ACSN Peace Talks Timeline

The Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada (ACSN), also known as Los Pachenca, is an armed group that emerged following the demobilization of the paramilitary army in 2006 on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.

Since then, the ACSN has consolidated its power in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, in the department of Magdalena, where it controls drug trafficking routes and runs extensive extortion networks.

Late 2022 – January 2023

ACSN Requests Peace Dialogues

The ACSN requests to be included in Petro’s Total Peace policy.

The group accept a 6-month bilateral ceasefire agreement with the government in January 2023.

June 2023

Ceasefire Expires

The bilateral ceasefire between the ACSN and the government expires. The latter ignores the group’s calls to renew and negotiations do not progress.

August 2024

ACSN Ceases Military Operations

As the Petro administration announces the initiation of “socio-legal conversations” with armed groups with no political recognition, the ACSN announces a cessation of military operations.

24 February 2025

Colombia Opens Peace Talks with ACSN

The Colombian government officially announces the commencement of Peace Talks with the ACSN.

April 2025

ACSN suspends temporarily dialogue with the Colombian government

ACSN announces the temporary suspension of dialogue talks with the government after confrontations between the Armed Forces and members of the armed group. ACSN claimed it had been an umprovoked attack by the army. They demanded the suspension of all arrest warrants against their members and called for the mediation of the UN Verification Mission, the MAP/OAS Mission, the Ombudsman’s Office, and the Catholic Church at the dialogue table.

14 June 2025

ACSN suspends military operations for two days

The ACSN announces the suspension of its military operations from Saturday 16 June, 16:00, to Monday 18 June, 16:00, and declare their intention to resume peace talks with the government, and request a response from the Consejería Comisionada de Paz to their request.

The government is also engaged in Peace Talks, with the EMC, ELN, Segunda Marquetalia and the AGC.