3.1.4. Estado Mayor de Bloques y Frentes (EMBF)

3.1.4. Estado Mayor de Bloques y Frentes (EMBF)

The EMBF is a dissident group of the FARC-EP232 which has presence in 111 municipalities in eight departments and has about 2 700 combatants.233 EMBF started out as part of EMC.234 According to Pares, EMBF has two main structures as follows:

EMBF reportedly creates social organisations in the areas where they operate and coopts other local organisations to exercise territorial control.236 EMBF also engages in recruitment of children, particularly indigenous and children with behavioural problems or with drug addictions.237 Extortion is a main source of income,²³⁸ termed ‘vaccines' (vacunas), that are charged mostly to those offering products and services, landowners, harvesters, as well as cattle ranchers.239 EMBF also extorts members of Community Action Boards (Juntas de Acción Comunal, JACs).240

The peace process with EMBF initiated in March 2023241 when it was still part of²⁴² the EMC, under the leadership of Iván Mordisco.243 In March 2024, the government suspended the cease-fire with the EMC in Nariño, Cauca, and Valle del Cauca departments after the group carried out several attacks, including against indigenous Nasa in Cauca department.244 In April 2024, the Iván Mordisco faction withdrew from the negotiation table and the process continued with the remaining blocs (Jorge Suárez Briceño, Magdalena Medio Comandante Gentil Duarte, and Raúl Reyes) under the name EMBF.245

Pares reported that, between January 2023 and May 2025, EMBF carried out 783 violent actions, including 234 cases of violations to the 'right to life', 190 cases of restrictions to the freedom of movement, 148 cases of the use of explosives, and 106 cases involving human rights defenders.246 EMBF reportedly uses drones in armed attacks.247 In May 2025, the EMBF killed nine soldiers in Guaviare department during an armed clash with the army.248 El País reported that there are several versions around the circumstances of the clash, with the EMBF indicating that their combatants thought the army troops were members of a rival group, while the government indicated that the attack was premeditated.249 The EMBF eventually indicated that the attack 'did not reflect the general policy of the group', casting doubts around its capacity to exercise control within the ranks.250 On 16 June 2024, the EMC carried out an attack against family members of the Vice-President Francia Márquez251 in an effort to seek dialogue with President Gustavo Petro.252

Pares indicated that current challenges to the process with the EMBF include the territorial dispute among illegal armed groups, particularly the ELN, AGC and EMC dissidences, which undermines the EMBF's capacity to consolidate its presence in the territories they control and fulfil their commitments, and internal disputes.253