1. FARC: Leadership Structure
Key elements of the FARC leadership/leadership structure
The Central Leadership
Central leaders
Central High Command
The regional structure/blocs
The stability of the leadership

2. The Central Leadership
Manuel Marulanda
Alfonso Cano
Rodrigo Echeverri (Timochenko)
Central High Command
Responsible for strategies and operational policies
What makes up the Central Command?
Secretariat
Estado Mayor Central/general staff

3. The regional structure/blocs
Command Structure broken down to seven blocs and fronts that make up the blocs
Five are regional
Receive guidance from bloc commanders
Two are Joint Commands
Commanded directly through FARC senior leadership
Additional mobile columns

4. Stability Positives Negatives
Clearly defined command positions at every level and detailed responsibilities
Both developed/hierarchical and hybrid command structure
Recent deaths of upper level commanders
Main rivalry
Military vs. Political
Shift from local insurgency to more internationally connected organization

5. Key Conclusions
Command structure and leadership in organization = self-operating machine
Increased Gov. pressure
The FARC remain Colombia’s most powerful present-day guerilla group
“lizard-like” leadership structure -> operational continuance