Because I throw their names around all the time...

As I was writing up some analysis of the current situation for the FARC, I realized that background might be useful for some readers. Here's a quick primer on the FARC leadership for those less familiar with the situation.

Manuel Marulanda (Tirofijo). Until he died in March, he was a top leader of the FARC since the beginning in the mid-1960's. By many reports, he settled disputes among the other FARC leadership and his decisions were respected by the others. With him gone, it's likely that disputes between the other leadership will increase.

Alfonso Cano. The new leader of the FARC since Marulanda's death. By most reports, he's based in Western Colombia. He is considered an "ideologue" by FARC standards. According to recent reports, the military has been putting constant pressure on Cano for the past three months, forcing him to move a lot and reducing his communications.

Mono Jojoy. The head of the Eastern Bloc. He is considered the most militaristic of the group. He runs a significant portion of the FARC's drug trafficking routes. Some analysts, but not all, think he might be upset that Cano was named as Tirofijo's successor instead of him. Of all the FARC secretariat, he is probably in the strongest position as he is in the most remote portions of the Amazon and has more money and weapons than the rest of them.

Iván Márquez. Former leader of the Northwest Bloc. More recently, he's been living along the Colombian-Venezuelan border. By some reports, he is disliked by Cano and Jojoy. However, he is the FARC's main line of communication with the Venezuelan government, so he maintains a key point of leverage that the FARC don't want to lose. Also, as a piece of trivia, he is the only member of the FARC secretariat to ever hold elected office.

Timochenko (Timoleón Jiménez). A Secretariat member in northern Colombia. He's done significant work on terrorist tactics and drug trafficking. The fact he was the person in the video announcing Tirofijo's death suggests he will be taking a greater role in the FARC's communications. That could pit him against Márquez, who likes the limelight on Telesur and wanted to become the lead spokesman after Reyes' death.

Joaquín Gómez. Replaced Raul Reyes after his death. However, with the Southern Bloc of the FARC fairly weak and with his role less public than that of Reyes, he has a very low profile at the moment.

Pablo Catatumbo. Replaced Cano as the head of the Western Bloc. Timochenko announced that he is now a member of the Secretariat after the death of Marulanda.

Mauricio Jaramillo. Replaced Ivan Rios in the Secretariat. Was also allegedly the personal doctor of Marulanda.

Grannobles. He is the brother of Mono Jojoy. Not a member of the Secretariat, but definitely a key second level leader. He also works in the Eastern Bloc, along the border with Venezuela.

The other notable second level leaders include Pastor Alape, Bertulfo, Carlos Antonio Lozada, Romaña, and Fabián Ramírez. There's not much to say about them other than that they are really what's left of a decimated middle management of the FARC. Of them, Pastor Alape and Bertulfo are allegedly next in line for the Secretariat should something happen to one of the current members. However, Romaña, and Fabián Ramírez are probably more important from a military tactical perspective.

Feel free to ask questions in the comment section.