The leader of Colombia’s FARC rebel group has been transferred to Cuba on Tuesday after being treated for a light stroke just two days before.
Rodrigo Londoño, also known by his nom-de-guerre “Timochenko,” was given permission by Colombia’s government to leave the country and continue his recovery on the Caribbean island after he had checked himself into a local hospital on Sunday for slurred speech and the loss of mobility in one arm.
FARC’s top leader in hospital after stroke
The decision was confirmed by Colombia’s Peace Commissioner’s Twitter page, which stated that “to continue his recovery, the government authorized Londoño to be transferred to Cuba. The guarantor country will assume medical and security expenses.”
Para continuar recuperación, Gobierno autorizó traslado a Cuba de Rodrigo Londoño. País garante asumirá los gastos médicos y de seguridad.
— Alto Comisionado Paz (@ComisionadoPaz) July 4, 2017
According to the hospital in Colombia’s central city of Villavicencio — where the FARC leader initially sought treatment — Londoño has already recovered strength in his arm and 90% of his speech, national newspaper El Espectador reported.
Another member of the FARC’s governing body, Felix Antonio Muñoz, a.k.a. “Pastor Alape,” tweeted “Our best wishes for @TimoFARC on your recovery trip to the Republic of Cuba. Our energy is with you comrade!”
Nuestros mejores deseos para @TimoFARC en su viaje de recuperación a la República de Cuba. Nuestro aliento te acompaña camarada! pic.twitter.com/oc8vSz9sIV
— Pastor A. Lascarro (@AlapePastorFARC) July 5, 2017
Cuba hosted the peace talks between the FARC and Colombia’s government from 2012 until last year, which cultimated in the signing of a peace agreement that ended more than 50 years of civil war in the country.