2024 Ecuadorian conflict
Part of the Ecuadorian security crisis and the War on drugs in Ecuador
Date9 January 2024 – present
(5 days)
Location
Ecuador
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Ecuador Government of Ecuador Organized crime groups, notably Los Choneros
Commanders and leaders
Units involved
Armed civilians
Organisations involved[1]
Casualties and losses
2 police officers killed[2]
4 police officers kidnapped[3]		 5 killed[4]
more than 859 suspects detained[2][4]
8 civilians killed[2]

On 9 January 2024, an armed conflict broke out in Ecuador involving the country's government against several organized crime groups, most notably Los Choneros.

Reports of armed attacks throughout Guayaquil were widespread, occurring primarily in prisons, markets, roads, and universities.[5][6] The large-scale attacks were a combination of responses to the escape of Los Choneros leader José Adolfo Macías Villamar in Guayaquil,[7] and President Daniel Noboa declaring a state of emergency and then an internal state of war.[6]

Background

Geographically, Ecuador is located between Colombia and Peru, the two main cocaine producing countries in the world. It also possesses the port of Guayaquil, an important gateway that suffers from poor oversight by Ecuadorian authorities. Until 2016 the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) controlled cocaine trafficking operations between Colombia and Ecuador. Following a peace agreement between FARC and the Colombian government that year which led to the former withdrawing from main cocaine producing areas, some dissident FARC members founded their own drug gangs. Due to better control of the Colombian government over transportation hubs, drug trafficking from Colombia decreased and its operations moved to Ecuador.[8]

According to Vox, the lower demand for cocaine in the United States alongside the Colombian peace process created a power vacuum that saw Albanian, Mexican and Venezuelan criminal groups attempt to control drug trafficking routes out of Ecuador.[9] Former Minister of Interior and head of the National Police of Peru, Eduardo Pérez Rocha, said after the conflict began that the increased violence in Ecuador was due to the presence of the international Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, resulting with a higher intensity of criminal activity.[10]

Since 2018, Ecuador has faced a historic wave of violence as the country has become a critical cocaine transit point, and organized crime groups compete for control of drug routes and prisons. Hundreds of prison inmates have been killed in prison fights.[11]

In 2019 massive riots broke out in response to austerity measures.[12] On 10 October, the capital city of Quito was overrun by the protesters forcing president Lenin Moreno to relocate the government to Guayaquil.[13] Returning the fuel subsidies ended these clashes.[14]

On 7 January 2024, Los Choneros leader José Adolfo Macías Villamar escaped from prison in Guayaquil on the day of his scheduled transfer to a maximum-security prison. The events were reported the next day by authorities, with charges being filed against two corrections officers.[7][15] On 9 January, Fabricio Colon Pico, the leader of another criminal group, Los Lobos, also escaped from prison in Riobamba four days after he had been arrested for plotting to kill Attorney-General Diana Salazar Méndez.[16][17]

Following the escape, President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency to last for 60 days,[6] granting authorities the power to suspend people's rights and allowing the military to be mobilized inside prisons. Riots ensued in multiple prisons across Ecuador.[18] A series of attacks took place, including attacks with explosives on businesses and private vehicles and an explosion near the house of the president of the National Court of Justice.[19] On the night of 8 January, four police officers were kidnapped in Quito and Quevedo.[7]

According to The Washington Post, intelligence analysts said that the attacks may have been triggered at least in part by a recent investigation into links between drug traffickers, criminal gangs, and political operators. The operation, known as Metastasis, led to the arrests of at least 20 top security officials and judges in December 2023 for alleged criminal activity benefiting a drug trafficker.[11]

Conflict

On 9 January 2024, organized crime groups in Ecuador issued threats of "war", prompting the country's president to declare a state of armed internal conflict and authorize military operations against these groups.[20][21] On the same day, Los Choneros gunmen[5] forcibly entered a TC Televisión studio in Guayaquil, where they took journalists hostage during a live newscast.[22] Later in the day, the Ecuadorian police raided the TV studio, released the journalists, and arrested the gang members.[5] One journalist was injured after being shot in the leg while another station employee suffered a broken arm.[23] Some of the attackers were reported to be minors.[24]

In Quito at 15:00, officials of the Palacio de Carondelet in the historic center and other state institutions were evacuated for safety. Many businesses closed their commercial activities for the day. An explosive device was later found and deactivated in the vicinity of the Obelisco de la Vicentina. It was also reported that the vehicle restriction system called pico y placa was suspended until further notice.[25]

Barricades in the hospital of Los Ceibos in the north of Guayaquil

Several hospitals in Guayaquil were targets of violent acts, including Teodoro Maldonado, Luis Vernaza, Guayaquil, El Niño and Los Ceibos.[26] The assaults on the hospitals ranged from robberies of medical personnel to shooting at medical facilities. During an attack near Ceibos Hospital, the singer Diego Gallardo (also known as "Aire del Golfo") and a high school student were shot and wounded. Both were treated at the same hospital, where Gallardo died from his injuries.[27]

Concurrently, another group took police officers hostage, coercing them to read a message characterizing the events as a reaction to Noboa's declared state of emergency.[22] Additionally, a kidnapping incident unfolded at the University of Guayaquil campus, where students barricaded themselves inside classrooms.[5]

Several attacks on civilians were reported. At the Centro Comercial Albán Borja in Guayaquil, two civilians were shot and killed.[28] Two police officers were killed in an attack in Nobol.[29] Videos began circulating online showing prison guards being executed, while others requested a dialogue with Noboa, threatening to continue killing more guards.[30] One gang announcement threatened to kill anyone out in the streets after 11 pm.[15] Two vehicles and a gas station were set on fire in Esmeraldas.[17] Explosions were also reported across the country, particularly in Guayaquil, Cuenca, Machala, and Loja, as well as in Esmeraldas and Los Rios Provinces.[31]

Banks, markets, and shops were closed throughout the country in cities such as Quito and Guayaquil to protect merchants and customers from armed attacks.[32][33]

On 11 January, two people were killed and nine others were injured in an arson attack on a nightclub in Coca which also destroyed 11 stores.[34]

Government response

President Daniel Noboa declared in a decree that the country was experiencing an "internal armed conflict" and ordered the military to carry out operations to neutralize armed groups.[35] The head of the Armed Forces of Ecuador, Jaime Vela Erazo said in response to the decree that there will be "no negotiations" with armed groups.[36] Noboa identified these organized crime groups as "terrorist organizations and belligerent non-state actors."[35] The National Assembly subsequently approved the measures unanimously.[37]

That same day the Ministry of Education suspended in-person classes and mandated virtual learning until 12 January.[38]

Noboa announced that transportation in Quito would cease operations, except for the Quito Metro, which would run under limited stops and hours.[39] He also stated that the Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito would remain open but with increased security.[40] Noboa also said that foreign inmates were to be deported to reduce the prison population.[41]

Reactions

Domestic

  • The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador and the Ecuadorian Episcopal Conference called for national unity to overcome the "situation of unprecedented violence caused by organized crime." They emphasized that the national government must act within the current legal framework. Furthermore, they stressed that the state should not use this crisis "as an excuse to approve unpopular laws or policies that adversely affect the majority of the population."[42][43]
  • Former Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa expressed support for Noboa's decision to declare an "internal armed conflict" in the country. He endorsed Noboa's order for the Armed Forces of Ecuador to take action and called for national unity.[44]

International

Countries

  •  Argentina: The Argentine Government expressed support for the authorities and people of Ecuador in their "struggle against organized crime, which seeks to undermine the rule of law."[45] The Minister for Security, Patricia Bullrich, announced that the government would offer armed assistance to Ecuador, stating that drug trafficking was a "continental issue".[46]
  •  Brazil: The Brazilian government expressed concern over the violent incidents in Ecuador. It also conveyed its "solidarity with both the Ecuadorian Government and the Ecuadorian people who have fallen victim to these attacks."[47]
  •  Chile: The Chilean Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing its concern, extending its support to the "Ecuadorian institutions and conveying a message of solidarity and support to their authorities and people."[48]
  •  China: The country announced the temporary closure of its embassy and consulates in Ecuador on 10 January.[29]
  •  Colombia: The Colombian Foreign Ministry indicated its support for the democratic institutions and the rule of law of the neighboring country through a press release. It also expressed solidarity with those affected and wished for the restoration of public order.[49] The Colombian army said that it was increasing security measures along the border with Ecuador.[16]
  •  Costa Rica,  Dominican Republic,  Panama: The three countries jointly expressed their support and solidarity with the Government of Ecuador.[50] Panamanian Laurentino Cortizo also expressed regret at the crisis in Ecuador and expressed solidarity with President Noboa.[51]
  •  France: The country warned its nationals against traveling to Ecuador.[52]
  •  Mexico: Mexican Ambassador to Ecuador Raquel Serur appealed for calm and urged everyone to follow local authorities' instructions, stay at home, and avoid attending large-scale events.[53]
  •  Netherlands: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned people traveling to Ecuador not to visit the border area with Colombia and recommended only essential travel to Esmeraldas Province.[54]
    • KLM: A special KLM flight was made to Ecuador to get seven Dutch people out of the country, after an emergency call on Twitter by Dutch television personality Rob Kamphues.[55][56][57]
  •  Paraguay: The country expressed its solidarity with the people and Government of Ecuador amidst the "delicate internal security situation."[58]
  •  Peru: Prime Minister Alberto Otarola declared an emergency along the border with Ecuador and ordered the deployment of the Peruvian army to bolster National Police units[31] sent there by Interior Minister Víctor Torres Falcón.[59][60]
  •  Russia: The country warned its nationals against traveling to Ecuador.[52]
  •  United States: Ambassador Brian A. Nichols, the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs expressed concern about "the violence and kidnappings" and said that the US was "ready to provide assistance to the Ecuadorian government and will remain in close contact with the President regarding our support."[61] National Security Council Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the US was "committed to supporting Ecuadorians' security & prosperity & bolstering cooperation w/partners to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice." The US embassy in Quito canceled consular services on 10 January.[62]
  •  Uruguay: The Ministry of Foreign Relations issued a statement in which it expressed its "solidarity with the Ecuadorian authorities" on behalf of the Uruguayan Government and that it ensures the "reestablishment of internal order within the strict framework of the current institutions that allows the recovery of "citizen coexistence".[63] In addition, it was announced that the Embassy of Uruguay is closely following the development of events and an emergency line was enabled for Uruguayan citizens in Ecuador.[64]
  •  Venezuela: President Nicolás Maduro wrote on Twitter, "I strongly reject the violence unleashed by Ecuadorian criminal gangs that put the security and peace of our sister Republic at risk and express, on behalf of Venezuela, our solidarity with the people and government of Ecuador in this fight against the scourge of organized crime. I trust in the prompt restoration of order and in the timely action of justice against the intellectual and material authors of these unacceptable terrorist acts."[65]

Supranational organizations

  •  European Union: Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described the increased gang activity as a "direct attack on democracy and the rule of law".[52]
  •  United Nations: Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed alarm at the "deteriorating situation in the country as well as its disruptive impact on the lives of Ecuadorans".[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Daniel Noboa decreta estado de conflicto interno". Publimetro. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "At least ten dead, including two police officers, left the wave of drug violence in Ecuador" (in Spanish). Infobae. 10 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  3. ↑ "Ecuador TV studio taken over live on air by masked people brandishing guns". Reuters. 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  4. 1 2 Solano, Gonzalo; Molina, Gabriela (13 January 2024). "Casi 900 detenidos y 5 delincuentes abatidos en Ecuador ante despliegue militar y alza de impuestos" [Almost 900 detainees with 5 criminals killed in Ecuador following military deployment after tax increases]. Associated Press (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Ecuador in complete chaos as gunmen take over TV station and terrorize college campus". MARCA. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 John, Tara (9 January 2024). "Ecuador declares 'internal armed conflict' as gunmen take over live TV broadcast". CNN. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 "A notorious Ecuadorian gang leader vanishes from prison and authorities investigate if he escaped". AP. 8 January 2024. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  8. ↑ Jens Glüsing: Die Drogenkartelle haben Ecuador den Krieg erklärt . , ISSN 2195-1349 ISSN 2195-1349 spiegel.de
  9. ↑ Goette-Luciak, C. D. (11 January 2024). "Cocaine, cartels, and corruption: The crisis in Ecuador, explained". Vox. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  10. ↑ Rojas Berríos, Manuel (11 January 2024). "Exministro peruano responsabilizó a delincuentes venezolanos por desatar ola de violencia en Ecuador". infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  11. 1 2 Schmidt, Samantha (10 January 2024). "Ecuador TV station stormed by gunmen, president declares state of conflict". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  12. ↑ "Ecuador: indigenous protesters paralyze roads in fifth day of anti-austerity unrest". The Guardian. Reuters. 7 October 2019. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  13. ↑ "Protesters move into Ecuador's capital; president moves out". ABC News. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  14. ↑ "Se deroga oficialmente el Decreto 883". Infórmate y Punto (in Spanish). 14 October 2019. Archived from the original on 15 October 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  15. 1 2 "Gunmen in Ecuador fire shots on live TV as country hit by series of violent attacks". CBS News. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  16. 1 2 3 "Ecuador in 'state of war' against cartels amid surge in violence, president says". France 24. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  17. 1 2 "Ecuador declares 'internal armed conflict' as gunmen take over live TV broadcast". CNN. 9 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  18. ↑ "Ecuador declares state of emergency after narco boss escapes prison". France 24. 8 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  19. ↑ Toque de queda, cuatro policías secuestrados y jefe criminal prófugo: La crítica situación que vive Ecuador
  20. ↑ "Ecuador In State Of 'Internal Armed Conflict': President". Barron's. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  21. ↑ LOPEZ, Paola (9 January 2024). "Gunshots on live TV as Ecuador gangsters vow 'war'". The Herald Palladium. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  22. 1 2 "Gunmen burst into Ecuador TV studio, take journalists hostage live on air". France24. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  23. ↑ "Ecuador declares war on armed gangs after TV station attacked on air". BBC. 10 January 2024. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  24. ↑ "Ecuador 'in state of war' against drug cartels' terror campaign". Al Jazeera. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  25. ↑ Redacción (9 January 2024). "Quito: saqueos y desmanes se reportaron en el Centro Histórico" [Quito: Looting and riots were reported in the Historic Center]. Ecuavisa (in Spanish). Ecuador. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  26. ↑ Ola de terror en Guayaquil dejó ocho muertos y cinco hospitales atacados
  27. ↑ Diego Gallardo, cantautor ecuatoriano, falleció por una bala perdida en plena ola de violencia en Guayaquil
  28. ↑ "Situación en Ecuador EN VIVO: últimas noticias sobre la crisis en Guayaquil". El Comercio. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  29. 1 2 "Ten killed, gangs unleash terror as Ecuador declares state of emergency". Al Jazeera. 10 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  30. ↑ "Crisis en Ecuador: Terroristas asesinan a guías penitenciarios secuestrados". PERU21 NOTICIAS. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  31. 1 2 "Armed gang storms Ecuador TV studio after state of emergency declared". Al Jazeera. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  32. ↑ "Locales comerciales de Quito y los valles cerraron ante alerta de saqueos". El Universo. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  33. ↑ "Mercados municipales cierran anticipademente ante hechos delictivos en Guayaquil" (in Spanish). El Universo. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  34. ↑ "Violence rattles Ecuador as a nightclub arson kills 2 and a bomb scare sparks an evacuation". Associated Press. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  35. 1 2 "Ecuador: Noboa declara conflicto armado interno y ordena a los militares neutralizar a grupos criminales". El Comercio. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  36. ↑ "Head of Ecuador's Armed Forces Say 'No Negotiations' With Named Groups Amid Violence". Yahoo! News. 10 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  37. ↑ "Ecuador president defies gangs to take on the army". BBC. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  38. ↑ "Ministerio de Educación suspende las clases presenciales en todo Ecuador hasta el 12 de enero". El Universo. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  39. ↑ "Metro de Quito habilitó solo un acceso por estación pero está operativo" (in Spanish). El Telégrafo. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  40. ↑ "Requisitos para los viajeros del aeropuerto de Quito ante situación que atraviesa el país" (in Spanish). Metro Ecuador. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  41. ↑ "Streets empty as Ecuador reels from violence". BBC. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  42. ↑ "CONAIE". X. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  43. ↑ Conferencia Episcopal Ecuatoriana: La violencia no prevalecerá
  44. ↑ "Rafael Correa apoyó la decisión del presidente Noboa de declarar el conflicto armado interno en Ecuador: "Es hora de la unidad nacional"". Infobae. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  45. ↑ "Cancillería Argentina". X. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  46. ↑ T, L (10 January 2024). "Patricia Bullrich aseguró que el Gobierno está dispuesto a mandar fuerzas de seguridad a Ecuador: "Esto es un tema continental"". Perfil (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  47. ↑ "Ações do crime organizado no Equador" [Organized crime actions in Ecuador] (in Portuguese). gov.br. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  48. ↑ "Comunicado por situación de Ecuador" [Statement regarding the situation in Ecuador] (in Spanish). minrel.gob.cl. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  49. ↑ "Cancillería Colombia". X. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  50. ↑ "Costa Rica, Panamá y República Dominicana expresan apoyo a Ecuador ante ola de violencia" [Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic express support for Ecuador in the face of wave of violence]. La Estrella de Panamá (in Spanish). Agencia EFE. 11 January 2024. Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  51. ↑ De La Cruz, Omar (9 January 2024). "Cortizo lamenta situación de Ecuador y monitorea el estado de los panameños en ese país" [Cortizo regrets the situation in Ecuador and monitors the state of Panamanians in that country]. tvn (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  52. 1 2 3 "Ecuador president declares 'war' with criminal gangs amid soaring violence". Al Jazeera. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  53. ↑ "Relaciones Exteriores". X. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  54. ↑ "Reisadvies Ecuador". Rijksoverheid (in Dutch). 4 April 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  55. ↑ "Rob Kamphues in Ecuador gered door KLM". Televizier (in Dutch). 10 January 2024.
  56. ↑ "Rob Kamphues en vriendin Kristi kunnen Ecuador woensdag verlaten". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 10 January 2024.
  57. ↑ "Nederlanders in Ecuador in spanning na geweldsexplosie". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 10 January 2024.
  58. ↑ "Paraguay se solidariza con Ecuador ante su "delicada situación de seguridad interna"" [Paraguay expresses solidarity with Ecuador in the face of its "delicate internal security situation"] (in Spanish). ultimahora. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  59. ↑ "Ecuador, en 'estado de guerra': 8 personas mueren en Guayaquil por hechos violentos" [Ecuador, in a 'state of war': 8 people die in Guayaquil due to violent events]. El Financiero (in Spanish). 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  60. ↑ Berríos, Manuel Rojas (9 January 2024). "Mininter toma acción por violencia en Ecuador: contingente de la Diroes resguardará la frontera de Tumbes" [Mininter takes action due to violence in Ecuador: Diroes contingent will guard the Tumbes border]. infobae (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  61. ↑ "Brian A. Nichols". X. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  62. ↑ "Soldiers patrol streets in Ecuador as government and cartels declare war on each other". CBS. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  63. ↑ "Ante situación en Ecuador". Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  64. ↑ "Gobierno uruguayo se solidarizó con Ecuador por violencia". Telenoche (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  65. ↑ Nicolás Maduro [@NicolasMaduro] (10 January 2024). "Rechazo de manera contundente la violencia desatada por las bandas criminales ecuatorianas que ponen en riesgo la seguridad y la paz de nuestra hermana República y expreso, en nombre de Venezuela, nuestra solidaridad al pueblo y al gobierno del Ecuador en esta lucha contra el flagelo del crimen organizado. Confío en el pronto restablecimiento del orden y en la actuación oportuna de la justicia contra los autores intelectuales y materiales de estos inaceptables actos terroristas" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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