Permanent ceasefire in Colombia by FARC rebels ends one of the world's longest running conflicts

The ceasefire ends a half-century of political violence which has claimed more than 220,000 lives and driven more than 5 million people from their homes

Colombia's Humberto de la Calle (right) and the FARC Commander Ivan Marquez (left) shake hands upon the signing of the agreement at the Convention Palace in Havana (Getty)

One of the world’s longest-running conflicts draws to a close at midnight, after Colombia’s FARC militant group declared a permanent ceasefire ending its five decades of insurgency.

The commander of Colombia's biggest rebel movement has said its fighters will permanently cease hostilities with the government as a result of their peace accord.

Rodrigo Londono, leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), made the announcement in Havana, where the two sides negotiated for four years before announcing the peace deal last week.

“Never again will parents be burying their sons and daughters killed in the war,” said Londono, who is also known as Timoshenko. “All rivalries and grudges will remain in the past.”

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced on Friday his military would cease attacks on the FARC beginning Monday. The announcement formalised a truce which has been in place in effect for several months.

In December, a major breakthrough occurred when the two sides signed a deal on paying reparations and committing to justice for conflict victims.

Colombia is expected to hold a national referendum on 2 Oct to give voters the chance to approve the deal for ending a half-century of political violence that has claimed more than 220,000 lives and driven more than 5 million people from their homes.

After the agreement is signed, FARC guerrillas will begin handing their weapons over to UN-sponsored monitors.

The final peace agreement will be signed in the coming weeks.

With additional reporting by AP