Manuel Marulanda Vélez

Manuel Marulanda Vélez, also known as 'Tirofijo', was the founding leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a guerrilla group formed in 1964. He played a pivotal role in Colombia's internal conflict, leading FARC through decades of armed struggle and peace negotiations. Marulanda's leadership was marked by the group's evolution from a rural insurgency into a complex organization involved in drug trafficking and other illicit activities. His death in 2008 marked a significant turning point for the group, which has since seen a split leading to the emergence of dissident factions continuing violent operations in Colombia, particularly in regions like Cauca.