United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC)
Name(s). Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, the "Paramilitaries."
Goals and Objectives. Founded in 1997, the AUC is an umbrella organization for right-wing paramilitary groups which first began forming in the 1980s in order to protect the economic interests of wealthy land owners and combat Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and National Liberation Army (ELN) insurgents locally.
Favored Tactics. The AUC has carried out indiscriminate bombing campaigns, assassinations, massacres of entire villages, and guerilla warfare.

Brief History. The AUC was founded by brothers Fidel and Carlos Castano in 1997. Groups subsumed by the AUC are believed to include: the Peasant Self- Defense Group of Cordoba and Uraba (ACCU), the Eastern Plains Self-Defense Group, the Cesar Self-Defense Group, the Middle Magdalena Self-Defense Group, Santander and Southern Cesar Self-Defense Group, Casanare Self-Defense Group, the Cundinamarca Self-Defense Group, the Pacific Bloc (including the "Frente Calima" in and around Cali), the Southern Bloc, and the"Frente Capital" forming in Bogota.

The AUC targets real and perceived supporters of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army (ELN), as well as political activists, police officials and judges. The group is known for its brutality and has killed more civilians than the leftist insurgencies have killed: in 2001, the AUC killed at least 1,015 civilians, compared to the 197 civilians killed by the FARC. The AUC also committed over 100 massacres in 2001, a tactic it used to displace large portions of the peasant population in order maintain firmer control over the major coca-growing lands. The U.S. State Department noted that the AUC was responsible for about 43 percent of Colombia’s internally displaced people in 2001.
Co-founder Carlos Castano claims that drug- related activity supplies 70 percent of AUC’s funding, while the rest is donated by sponsors.

In 2001, Castano stepped down as head of military operations to devote more time to the political activities of the AUC. In 2002, the AUC signed a cease fire and is engaged in peace talks with the Colombian government. In July 2003, citing government progress in combating the ELN and FARC, the AUC agreed to  demobilize. In November 2003, a paramilitary group of some 850 members based near Medellin formally demobilized.

Favored Tactics. The AUC has carried out indiscriminate bombing campaigns, assassinations, massacres of entire villages, and guerilla warfare.

Anti-American Activities. The AUC specifically avoids American personnel or interests. However, human rights abuses and known ties to narcotics trafficking may have earned the AUC a place on the FTO list.

Primary Areas of Operation. AUC forces operate in the northwest Colombian departments of Antioquia, Cordoba, Sucre, and Bolivar. Their presence has also been noted in the north and southwest, and fighting with FARC in 2000 in Putuyamo show AUC’s willingness to battle FARC throughout the country.

Strength and Composition. The AUC membership has tripled in the last three years, with a reported strength of anywhere from 6,000 to 15,000 fighters.

Connections with Other Groups. The AUC has no known connections with other terrorist groups. However, the group is intricately tied with Colombia drug producers.

State Supporters and Other Sources of Funding. There is no known direct relationship between the AUC and a state sponsor. However, there have been accusations that paramilitary organizations receive support from Colombia’s armed forces. Concerned that close collaboration between paramilitary and military forces was putting U.S. military aid to Colombia in the hands of the AUC, the U.S. government ordered the Armed Forces of Colombia to sever all ties with the AUC in order to qualify for U.S. aid.

Originally Designated as an FTO. September 10, 2001.

Issues of Concern for Congress. The relationship between the Colombian government and paramilitary groups has been a serious concern of Congress in the past because of the possibility that U.S. dollars might end up supporting the AUC. The Colombian government’s severing of those ties would remove this risk; however, congressional oversight will continue to be important.