Ecuador is in the midst of an internal armed conflict, declared by President Daniel Noboa in response to escalating violence linked to criminal organizations. The U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Ecuador issued an alert, acknowledging threats to the safety of American citizens. The unrest intensified when Jose Adolfo Macias, leader of the Los Choneros criminal organization, escaped from prison in Guayaquil.
A dramatic turn of events unfolded as masked gunmen stormed a television studio, holding terrified staff hostage during a live broadcast. The assailants were later arrested by the police, with Ecuador's police commander, César Zapata, labeling the incident as a terrorist act. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
President Noboa, responding to the wave of criminal activities, issued a decree designating 20 drug-trafficking gangs as terrorist groups. The military was authorized to "neutralize" these groups within the bounds of international humanitarian law. The government reported at least 30 attacks since Macias's escape, prompting increased security measures, including virtual schooling and telework recommendations.
In addition to Macias, another gang leader, Fabricio Colón Pico of the Los Lobos group, escaped from a prison in Riobamba. Colón Pico, captured in connection to a kidnapping investigation, is also accused of attempting to murder a lead prosecutor. The situation remains tense as Ecuador grapples with the challenges posed by criminal organizations, prompting both domestic and international concerns for the safety of its citizens.
