Jacobo Arenas


Jacobo Arenas was a Colombian guerrilla leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

Importance to FARC

Arenas' influence in FARC shifted the group toward more aggressive tactics, in which they would attempt to covertly surround cities actively pursue engagement with enemy forces. He was also one of the FARC figures involved in the organization and creation of the Patriotic Union political party in 1985.

Death and aftermath

Jacobo Arenas died on August 10, 1990, possibly due to cancer, but perhaps also due to diabetes or an ulcer, or even assassinated by a vindictive comrade.
Arenas' son, known as Francisco Arenas, continued to serve in the FARC after his father's death. He eventually led the Jacobo Arenas Front mobile column, named in honor of his father.
Alfonso Cano subsequently became Arenas' replacement as ideological leader of the group throughout the 1990s, and served as the leader of the FARC-EP from May 2008 to November 2011, when he was killed.