COLOMBIAN President Gustavo Petro said on Monday that he will declare a state of emergency over the guerilla attacks in the north-east that have killed dozens of people and forced thousands to flee their homes.

In a message on X, Mr Petro said that he will “declare a state of internal commotion,” a measure that enables the executive branch to pass certain kinds of legislation without congressional approval for three months. 

The measure will go into effect after a decree is signed by the president and his cabinet, but it can also be invalidated by Colombia’s constitutional court.