Elizabeth Dickinson
@dickinsonbeth.bsky.social
Interim Deputy Director for Latin America @crisisgroup.org. Past lives in the Arabian Peninsula and West Africa. Ex-journo, @economist.com @foreignpolicy.com. Runner.
If the U.S. plan is to topple Maduro, the possibility of violence would be significant.
Here, front and centre are the ELN, a hardened insurgency with presence in Venezuela & Colombia that the latter has sought for 60+ yrs to defeat.
ELN has vowed to defend Maduro and would.
Here, front and centre are the ELN, a hardened insurgency with presence in Venezuela & Colombia that the latter has sought for 60+ yrs to defeat.
ELN has vowed to defend Maduro and would.
October 23, 2025 at 10:36 PM
If the U.S. plan is to topple Maduro, the possibility of violence would be significant.
Here, front and centre are the ELN, a hardened insurgency with presence in Venezuela & Colombia that the latter has sought for 60+ yrs to defeat.
ELN has vowed to defend Maduro and would.
Here, front and centre are the ELN, a hardened insurgency with presence in Venezuela & Colombia that the latter has sought for 60+ yrs to defeat.
ELN has vowed to defend Maduro and would.
Something else is going on, and that something is messaging: to Maduro, to the broader region.
The decision to move unilaterally with military attacks, disregarding decades of cooperation, or even the courtesy of advanced warning, has sent a chilling message across the region.
The decision to move unilaterally with military attacks, disregarding decades of cooperation, or even the courtesy of advanced warning, has sent a chilling message across the region.
October 23, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Something else is going on, and that something is messaging: to Maduro, to the broader region.
The decision to move unilaterally with military attacks, disregarding decades of cooperation, or even the courtesy of advanced warning, has sent a chilling message across the region.
The decision to move unilaterally with military attacks, disregarding decades of cooperation, or even the courtesy of advanced warning, has sent a chilling message across the region.
First, the basics.
This is not a counter-narcotics strategy. Even if we take the WH at its word that there are drugs on board, attacking smalltime traffickers on speedboats will do nothing to affect the market.
This is not a counter-narcotics strategy. Even if we take the WH at its word that there are drugs on board, attacking smalltime traffickers on speedboats will do nothing to affect the market.
October 23, 2025 at 10:36 PM
First, the basics.
This is not a counter-narcotics strategy. Even if we take the WH at its word that there are drugs on board, attacking smalltime traffickers on speedboats will do nothing to affect the market.
This is not a counter-narcotics strategy. Even if we take the WH at its word that there are drugs on board, attacking smalltime traffickers on speedboats will do nothing to affect the market.
Conversar sobre el conflicto desde el feminismo 💜
De lejos la mejor invitación que he recibido en los últimos años fue esa: pensar en cómo prevenir, mitigar, y resolver conflicto con una perspectiva feminista?
¡Acompáñanos con @latam.crisisgroup.org @HumanasColombia mañana!
De lejos la mejor invitación que he recibido en los últimos años fue esa: pensar en cómo prevenir, mitigar, y resolver conflicto con una perspectiva feminista?
¡Acompáñanos con @latam.crisisgroup.org @HumanasColombia mañana!
September 24, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Conversar sobre el conflicto desde el feminismo 💜
De lejos la mejor invitación que he recibido en los últimos años fue esa: pensar en cómo prevenir, mitigar, y resolver conflicto con una perspectiva feminista?
¡Acompáñanos con @latam.crisisgroup.org @HumanasColombia mañana!
De lejos la mejor invitación que he recibido en los últimos años fue esa: pensar en cómo prevenir, mitigar, y resolver conflicto con una perspectiva feminista?
¡Acompáñanos con @latam.crisisgroup.org @HumanasColombia mañana!
Putting that aspiration into practice has proven daunting. For one, deteriorating security conditions complicate and limit where reparations can physically happen safely – both for defendants and communities.
September 16, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Putting that aspiration into practice has proven daunting. For one, deteriorating security conditions complicate and limit where reparations can physically happen safely – both for defendants and communities.
During this time, their movements will be restricted, through the use of electronic devices intended to monitor their location. This “restriction of liberty” was a fundamental component of the 2016 agreement.
September 16, 2025 at 7:56 PM
During this time, their movements will be restricted, through the use of electronic devices intended to monitor their location. This “restriction of liberty” was a fundamental component of the 2016 agreement.
Entering a polarizing election year, & 9yrs after the 2016 peace accord, Colombia’s transitional court laid down its long-awaited first sentences against leadership of the former FARC.
🧵 on what this means for a refreshed debate about balancing justice & peace
www.jep.gov.co/Sala-de-Pren...
🧵 on what this means for a refreshed debate about balancing justice & peace
www.jep.gov.co/Sala-de-Pren...
September 16, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Entering a polarizing election year, & 9yrs after the 2016 peace accord, Colombia’s transitional court laid down its long-awaited first sentences against leadership of the former FARC.
🧵 on what this means for a refreshed debate about balancing justice & peace
www.jep.gov.co/Sala-de-Pren...
🧵 on what this means for a refreshed debate about balancing justice & peace
www.jep.gov.co/Sala-de-Pren...
Guarda la fecha!
Estaremos @latam.crisisgroup.org para conversar sobre el conflicto colombiano con enfoque feminista💚💜
24 Sept miércoles, 8am
Bogotá, Hotel Tequendama
Estaremos @latam.crisisgroup.org para conversar sobre el conflicto colombiano con enfoque feminista💚💜
24 Sept miércoles, 8am
Bogotá, Hotel Tequendama
September 1, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Guarda la fecha!
Estaremos @latam.crisisgroup.org para conversar sobre el conflicto colombiano con enfoque feminista💚💜
24 Sept miércoles, 8am
Bogotá, Hotel Tequendama
Estaremos @latam.crisisgroup.org para conversar sobre el conflicto colombiano con enfoque feminista💚💜
24 Sept miércoles, 8am
Bogotá, Hotel Tequendama
For those asking why ground eradication needs air support, we recently explained how complex, costly, and high risk these operations are.
Eradication is horrible for everyone involved.
www.crisisgroup.org/latin-americ...
Eradication is horrible for everyone involved.
www.crisisgroup.org/latin-americ...
August 21, 2025 at 10:03 PM
For those asking why ground eradication needs air support, we recently explained how complex, costly, and high risk these operations are.
Eradication is horrible for everyone involved.
www.crisisgroup.org/latin-americ...
Eradication is horrible for everyone involved.
www.crisisgroup.org/latin-americ...
Earlier in the day in Amalfi, Antioquia, a drone attack hit a police helicopter that was offering air support for a manual coca eradication operation.
The explosives caused a fire in the helicopter, resulting in 8 deaths and a further 8 injured. The government has blamed EGC.
The explosives caused a fire in the helicopter, resulting in 8 deaths and a further 8 injured. The government has blamed EGC.
August 21, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Earlier in the day in Amalfi, Antioquia, a drone attack hit a police helicopter that was offering air support for a manual coca eradication operation.
The explosives caused a fire in the helicopter, resulting in 8 deaths and a further 8 injured. The government has blamed EGC.
The explosives caused a fire in the helicopter, resulting in 8 deaths and a further 8 injured. The government has blamed EGC.
Fue para nosotros @latam.crisisgroup.org un gusto de participar en la reunión annual de #ElPaccto, conversando sobre el desafío compartido del crimen organizado, América Latina y la Unión Europea🇪🇺.
Enfatizamos la importancia de priorizar la reducción de violencia contra la población civil
Enfatizamos la importancia de priorizar la reducción de violencia contra la población civil
June 18, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Fue para nosotros @latam.crisisgroup.org un gusto de participar en la reunión annual de #ElPaccto, conversando sobre el desafío compartido del crimen organizado, América Latina y la Unión Europea🇪🇺.
Enfatizamos la importancia de priorizar la reducción de violencia contra la población civil
Enfatizamos la importancia de priorizar la reducción de violencia contra la población civil
Es hora de hablar de reclutamiento de menores en el sicariato en Colombia.
Tal cual como reclutamiento rural, grupos criminales se están aprovechando del desespero de la juventud.
Tenemos que tratarlo con la misma seriedad.
No se puede seguir perdiendo niños a la violencia.
Tal cual como reclutamiento rural, grupos criminales se están aprovechando del desespero de la juventud.
Tenemos que tratarlo con la misma seriedad.
No se puede seguir perdiendo niños a la violencia.
June 8, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Es hora de hablar de reclutamiento de menores en el sicariato en Colombia.
Tal cual como reclutamiento rural, grupos criminales se están aprovechando del desespero de la juventud.
Tenemos que tratarlo con la misma seriedad.
No se puede seguir perdiendo niños a la violencia.
Tal cual como reclutamiento rural, grupos criminales se están aprovechando del desespero de la juventud.
Tenemos que tratarlo con la misma seriedad.
No se puede seguir perdiendo niños a la violencia.
The challenge for Colombia's security forces today is to strike the right balance of managing real risks, while understanding that the vast and overwhelming majority of protesters are exercising a legitimate right of expression.
We all hope 2021's lessons have been learned.
We all hope 2021's lessons have been learned.
May 28, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The challenge for Colombia's security forces today is to strike the right balance of managing real risks, while understanding that the vast and overwhelming majority of protesters are exercising a legitimate right of expression.
We all hope 2021's lessons have been learned.
We all hope 2021's lessons have been learned.
2) Threatening, coopting or replacing protest leaders with individuals closed to criminal groups.
Local social leaders are coerced and marginalized, in favor of those who advance the group's interest of expansion in local communities.
Local social leaders are coerced and marginalized, in favor of those who advance the group's interest of expansion in local communities.
May 28, 2025 at 4:53 PM
2) Threatening, coopting or replacing protest leaders with individuals closed to criminal groups.
Local social leaders are coerced and marginalized, in favor of those who advance the group's interest of expansion in local communities.
Local social leaders are coerced and marginalized, in favor of those who advance the group's interest of expansion in local communities.
How might this happen? In the aftermath of 2021, we learned about several modalities through interviews with communities affected.
1) Taking advantage of distracted law enforcement in cities to conduct operations or expand in rural areas or marginalized communities.
1) Taking advantage of distracted law enforcement in cities to conduct operations or expand in rural areas or marginalized communities.
May 28, 2025 at 4:53 PM
How might this happen? In the aftermath of 2021, we learned about several modalities through interviews with communities affected.
1) Taking advantage of distracted law enforcement in cities to conduct operations or expand in rural areas or marginalized communities.
1) Taking advantage of distracted law enforcement in cities to conduct operations or expand in rural areas or marginalized communities.
The job is not simply a matter of managing peaceful protest, however.
As we documented in 2021, criminal and armed group elements have sought to instrumentalize real, legitimate protests for their own gain.
As we documented in 2021, criminal and armed group elements have sought to instrumentalize real, legitimate protests for their own gain.
May 28, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The job is not simply a matter of managing peaceful protest, however.
As we documented in 2021, criminal and armed group elements have sought to instrumentalize real, legitimate protests for their own gain.
As we documented in 2021, criminal and armed group elements have sought to instrumentalize real, legitimate protests for their own gain.
Today's strike is the first real test case of the police reforms and mediation techniques developed from the lessons of 2021 to avoid escalation.
Then, police crackdowns to protests about legitimate concerns exacerbated the urban unrest, fueling a longterm social crisis.
Then, police crackdowns to protests about legitimate concerns exacerbated the urban unrest, fueling a longterm social crisis.
May 28, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Today's strike is the first real test case of the police reforms and mediation techniques developed from the lessons of 2021 to avoid escalation.
Then, police crackdowns to protests about legitimate concerns exacerbated the urban unrest, fueling a longterm social crisis.
Then, police crackdowns to protests about legitimate concerns exacerbated the urban unrest, fueling a longterm social crisis.
No perdimos los logros. Por primera vez desde el 2016, un grupo armado se compromete a un plan para no vincular más niños a la guerra, y dejar libre los reclutados menores de edad.
Ahora la tarea es hacerle cumplir y no descansar hasta que todos los hijos están en sus casas.
Ahora la tarea es hacerle cumplir y no descansar hasta que todos los hijos están en sus casas.
May 24, 2025 at 8:00 PM
No perdimos los logros. Por primera vez desde el 2016, un grupo armado se compromete a un plan para no vincular más niños a la guerra, y dejar libre los reclutados menores de edad.
Ahora la tarea es hacerle cumplir y no descansar hasta que todos los hijos están en sus casas.
Ahora la tarea es hacerle cumplir y no descansar hasta que todos los hijos están en sus casas.
Children taken from northern Cauca end up in half a dozen different armed groups across the country, from Guaviare to Arauca to Catatumbo.
The dept has become "a dispensary of children" recruits, a senior military official told me, also desperate to help stem the flow.
The dept has become "a dispensary of children" recruits, a senior military official told me, also desperate to help stem the flow.
May 8, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Children taken from northern Cauca end up in half a dozen different armed groups across the country, from Guaviare to Arauca to Catatumbo.
The dept has become "a dispensary of children" recruits, a senior military official told me, also desperate to help stem the flow.
The dept has become "a dispensary of children" recruits, a senior military official told me, also desperate to help stem the flow.
Children are not just recruited to a particular group. They are trafficked - offered to the highest bidder.
“Every child has a price,” Tumi told me, “higher or lower depending on their characteristics.” Boys sell for $120; pretty girls for more than four times that amount.
“Every child has a price,” Tumi told me, “higher or lower depending on their characteristics.” Boys sell for $120; pretty girls for more than four times that amount.
May 8, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Children are not just recruited to a particular group. They are trafficked - offered to the highest bidder.
“Every child has a price,” Tumi told me, “higher or lower depending on their characteristics.” Boys sell for $120; pretty girls for more than four times that amount.
“Every child has a price,” Tumi told me, “higher or lower depending on their characteristics.” Boys sell for $120; pretty girls for more than four times that amount.
Boys are told they will earn fast cash, with access to motorcycles, cellphones, and girls.
“Sometimes as a young person, you act without thinking,” Tumi told me. “You put one foot, then two feet, in the water, and suddenly there is no way out.”
“Sometimes as a young person, you act without thinking,” Tumi told me. “You put one foot, then two feet, in the water, and suddenly there is no way out.”
May 8, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Boys are told they will earn fast cash, with access to motorcycles, cellphones, and girls.
“Sometimes as a young person, you act without thinking,” Tumi told me. “You put one foot, then two feet, in the water, and suddenly there is no way out.”
“Sometimes as a young person, you act without thinking,” Tumi told me. “You put one foot, then two feet, in the water, and suddenly there is no way out.”
Girls, who are sought out about as often as boys, often receive tailor-made pitches from recruiters.
One teenager said she was drawn in by the promise of escaping from a violent home. others girls told her they came expecting fancy cars, nice clothes, and rich boyfriends.
One teenager said she was drawn in by the promise of escaping from a violent home. others girls told her they came expecting fancy cars, nice clothes, and rich boyfriends.
May 8, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Girls, who are sought out about as often as boys, often receive tailor-made pitches from recruiters.
One teenager said she was drawn in by the promise of escaping from a violent home. others girls told her they came expecting fancy cars, nice clothes, and rich boyfriends.
One teenager said she was drawn in by the promise of escaping from a violent home. others girls told her they came expecting fancy cars, nice clothes, and rich boyfriends.
Recruitment can happen anywhere. Often, the first contact comes over social media.
“The groups maintain a presence outside of schools,’” one indigenous leader told me. Rectors in northern Cauca received death threats last year when they tried to limit access to schools.
“The groups maintain a presence outside of schools,’” one indigenous leader told me. Rectors in northern Cauca received death threats last year when they tried to limit access to schools.
May 8, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Recruitment can happen anywhere. Often, the first contact comes over social media.
“The groups maintain a presence outside of schools,’” one indigenous leader told me. Rectors in northern Cauca received death threats last year when they tried to limit access to schools.
“The groups maintain a presence outside of schools,’” one indigenous leader told me. Rectors in northern Cauca received death threats last year when they tried to limit access to schools.
Late last year, I interviewed a dozen children who had been recruited or resisted recruitment, together with Edgar Tumiña, who devoted his life to protecting these kids.
Tumi was shot weeks later. “The armed groups want to kill us because we deny them what they need" he told me.
Tumi was shot weeks later. “The armed groups want to kill us because we deny them what they need" he told me.
May 8, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Late last year, I interviewed a dozen children who had been recruited or resisted recruitment, together with Edgar Tumiña, who devoted his life to protecting these kids.
Tumi was shot weeks later. “The armed groups want to kill us because we deny them what they need" he told me.
Tumi was shot weeks later. “The armed groups want to kill us because we deny them what they need" he told me.
There are hundreds if not thousands of children in the ranks of armed groups today.
As criminals have expanded in recent years, they have needed cheap foot soldiers to hold new ground.
Between 2021 and 2024, the number of reported child recruits rose roughly 1,000 percent.
As criminals have expanded in recent years, they have needed cheap foot soldiers to hold new ground.
Between 2021 and 2024, the number of reported child recruits rose roughly 1,000 percent.
May 8, 2025 at 7:35 PM
There are hundreds if not thousands of children in the ranks of armed groups today.
As criminals have expanded in recent years, they have needed cheap foot soldiers to hold new ground.
Between 2021 and 2024, the number of reported child recruits rose roughly 1,000 percent.
As criminals have expanded in recent years, they have needed cheap foot soldiers to hold new ground.
Between 2021 and 2024, the number of reported child recruits rose roughly 1,000 percent.