The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is a guerrilla group that originated in Colombia in the mid-20th century. FARC is an acronym for Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia in Spanish, which translates to "Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia" in English. FARC is recognized for its Marxist-Leninist ideologies and its long-standing engagement in armed conflict against the Colombian government.
The FARC was established in 1964 as a communist insurgency group seeking to overthrow the Colombian government and establish a socialist state. Over the years, it has been involved in various activities such as drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, and guerrilla warfare. FARC became notorious for its violent tactics, including attacks on military and civilian targets, as well as its involvement in drug production and trafficking to finance its operations.
Throughout its existence, FARC has faced significant opposition from the Colombian government, as well as criticism from international organizations due to its human rights abuses and illegal activities. The group has been involved in decades-long armed conflict, resulting in thousands of deaths and displacements, and debilitating Colombia's socio-political landscape.
In recent years, however, FARC has undergone significant changes. In 2016, the group signed a peace agreement with the Colombian government, leading to its demobilization and transformation into a political party. Today, FARC primarily operates as a political organization, although splinter groups and dissidents linked to the original organization still engage in illegal activities.
