Western Bloc of the FARC-EP

The Western Bloc of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia is believed the smallest of the blocs in size, but not in military capability. It is routinely held responsible for attacks that occur in Cali and its surroundings. The specific divisions of the group are arguable. Because of the current conflict existing in the country, much of the information recovered is conflicting. Some of the believed divisions or 'fronts', as they are commonly called, are shown below. Many of these fronts sometimes work together towards a certain mission, while others are further divided into 'columns' and 'companies' with a smaller number of members. For more general information see FARC-EP Chain of Command.

6th Front
Also known as the Hernando González Acosta Front, it is composed of 400 to 500 people as of 2011. It operates mostly in the Cauca Department and the Valle del Cauca Department. Its leader is considered, along with Tirofijo, one of the founders of FARC.

On September 19, 2008, heavy fighting occurred between the Colombian army and the FARC's sixth front during an attack on Toribío, Cauca Department. On April 27, 2013, 17 members of the front are captured while they attempted to steal an helicopter from the Colombian armed forces.


 * The Mobile Column Alonso Cortés, composed by up to 50 men, also operates in this area.

8th Front
It is composed by up to 80 men and operates mostly in the Cauca Department and along the pacific coast. Its current leadership is unclear.

29th Front
It is composed by up to 250 men and operates mostly in the Nariño Department. It includes the mobile column Daniel Aldana which operate in the Tumaco department. In late April 2013, 13 alleged members of the column are captured, and one other is killed.

30th Front
Also known as the José Antonio Páez Front, it is composed of up to 300 people. It operates mostly in the Cauca Department and the Valle del Cauca Department. The front leads drug trafficking activities in the areas near the Yurumangui river and is responsible for multiple attacks against civilians on Colombia's Pacific coast. On March 2011, 10 guerillas were killed by the army, and 5 others captured. On October 2, 2011, 3 guerillas were killed and 2 captured. On February 11, the 30th front attack an army base, killing 3 and injuring 18 member of the Colombian army.

Mobile column Miller Perdomo forms a part of this front.

60th Front
It is composed of up to 60 men and operates mostly in the Cauca Department.

Mobile Column Jacobo Arenas
It is composed by up to 300 men and operates mostly in the Cauca Department. The column is suspected to be responsible for an attack which killed six soldiers on February 9, 2009.

Mobile Column Arturo Ruiz
It is one of the FARC's elite units, among its most notorious operations is the kidnapping of the Valle del Cauca deputies on April 11, 2002.

Mobile Column Gabriel Galvis
Operates in Valle del Cauca. Has 110 fighters or more as of 2011.

Mobile Column Víctor Saavedra
Operates in Valle del Cauca and especially in the mountains east of Tuluá.

Urban Front Manuel Cepeda Vargas
It is composed by up to 50 men and is one of the FARC's strongest factions in Cali.