CUBA- HAVANA- Associated Press- August 25, 2016 –  Colombia’s government and the country’s biggest rebel group reached a deal Wednesday evening for ending a half-century of hostilities in what has been one of the world’s longest-running armed conflicts.

Humberto de la Calle, right, head of Colombia’s government peace negotiation team, shakes

The government’s accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia must still be ratified by voters in a plebiscite in order to take effect.

But the announcement in Havana of a deal after four years of talks opens the possibility for Colombians to put behind them political bloodshed that has claimed more than 220,000 lives and driven more than 5 million people from their homes. 

The accord, whose final text has yet to be published, commits Colombia’s government to carrying out aggressive land reform, overhauling its anti-narcotics strategy and greatly expanding the state into traditionally neglected areas of the country.

 But many sensitive details being worked out during around-the-clock sessions in recent days remain unknown and the joint statement read by the talks’ Cuban and Norwegian sponsors was intended more to celebrate the conclusion of talks than offer new insights. 

Negotiations began in November 2012 and were plagued by distrust built up during decades of war propaganda on both sides.

 People celebrate the announcement from Havana, Cuba, that delegates of Colombia’s government and leaders 

People celebrated celebrate the agreement between Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, and Colombia’s