Colombia’s president has said his government will seek peace negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the country’s largest guerrilla group, to end five decades of war.In a televised address from the presidential palace on Monday, Juan Manuel Santos said his government would learn from the mistakes of so many previous leaders who tried but failed to clinch a lasting ceasefire with the armed group, which is known by is acronym, FARC.“We have had exploratory conversations with the FARC to seek an end to the conflict,” Santos said, confirming weeks of rumours that his government had started behind-the-scenes discussions.The government may also reach out to the National Liberation Army, known as the ELN, another guerrilla movement, he said.Meanwhile, government troops will continue operations, Santos said.A successful peace agreement with the rebels would secure Santos a place in history as the leader who ended a conflict that has killed tens of thousands over the years and left the Andean nation’s reputation in tatters.
