“The era of inert governance is over,” declared the president on Wednesday, addressing a moment of national tension in Ecuador. Moments earlier, Daniel Noboa had characterized the situation as an internal armed conflict that demanded more than ordinary policing and called for decisive state action to counter drug trafficking. He framed the crisis as a war that the state could not afford to lose, insisting that terrorists would not triumph over the authorities.
Ecuador remains reeling from a sequence of dramatic events that pressured the government to act with extraordinary measures. The escape of José Adolfo Macías, known as Fito, who leads the Los Choneros organization, along with Fabricio Colón Pico, the head of the Los Lobos faction, alongside prison riots, the seizure of a television studio, vehicle explosions, kidnappings, and a rising death toll, have all compounded the sense of crisis.
Authorities have detained more than 70 individuals accused of participating in «attacks and terrorist acts» in Guayaquil, the city hardest hit by gang violence. Officials emphasized that what appeared as organized crime was treated as terrorism, noting that the state of conflict necessitated extraordinary legal measures. Noboa announced the application of International Humanitarian Law in a way that diverges from Ecuador’s usual practice. He convened a cabinet meeting and unveiled a plan to pivot the response to long-standing security challenges dating back to 2019. The plan also called for the judiciary to take a hard line against those aiding the terrorists, with the implication that suspects would be treated as members of the criminal networks under investigation.
COSEPE was newly established as part of these efforts.
“We will not permit terrorist groups to disrupt the country’s peace.”
— Daniel Noboa Azin
— January 9, 2024
Call for unity
Newspaper Universe reported that Noboa urged Guayaquil residents to support the administration’s security policy with responsibility and maturity. He emphasized the importance of consistency and national unity during a period when the country has endured significant upheaval. Dramatic footage from TC Televisión showed workers on the floor as gunfire echoed nearby, with police and prison staff threatened in dramatic scenes across the city. The report highlighted that some detainees were aged between 16 and 25, underscoring the reach of drug trafficking into vulnerable communities. Legal consequences for those involved in unlawful deprivation of liberty can carry substantial prison terms, reflecting the gravity of the offense.
The Ministry of Education extended a halt to in-person classes through January, and hospitals continued operations under heightened safety protocols. The media landscape faced new risks, with journalists reporting under tense conditions as security concerns crept into daily coverage. Bulletproof vests and protective gear became common among frontline workers amid ongoing violence and disruption.
Preliminary operational results from national interventions against attacks and acts of terrorism were shared in official briefings, signaling a coordinated response to the upheaval and a commitment to public safety.
— Official communications from the police and security services.
Announcements from regional bodies
Noboa received broad regional support, including from the United States, via the Organization of American States (OAS). Secretary General Luis Almagro expressed support for the temporary emergency measures enacted by the Carondelet Palace and affirmed that combating organized crime within the framework of civil rights remains a regional priority.
Meanwhile, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) began monitoring the situation, noting the deployment of armed forces to assist internal security tasks under the latest presidential decree. The IACHR underscored that extraordinary, temporary measures should remain clearly subordinate to civilian powers and subject to appropriate regulation and oversight. The experience of neighboring countries, including El Salvador, influenced the Commission to emphasize ongoing condemnation of prison violence, explosive attacks, and all acts tied to organized crime, while insisting that drug trafficking matters require rigorous investigations.
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