Ecuador, embroiled in turmoil since January 8 following clashes between the government and drug traffickers, is experiencing chaos after "Veto," the nation's foremost adversary, evaded capture, prompting one gang to seize police officers as hostages. President Daniel Noboa declared the country in a "state of war."
To grasp the situation, the French magazine Le Point posed the following five questions:
What caused the crisis to erupt?
The crisis erupted after the escape of Adolfo Macias, aka "Veto," leader of the principal criminal organization in the country on January 7. Held in a high-security prison in Guayaquil, southwestern Ecuador, Veto's flight from captivity destabilized the nation and led to rebellions across various prisons, which prompted the Ecuadorian president to declare a 60-day state of emergency on January 7.
What is the provisional assessment of the conflict?
Since the start of the crisis, acts of violence have resulted in at least ten deaths. The Ecuadorian president estimates that there are over 20,000 members of criminal gangs behind this violence, branding them as "terrorists." Several jail guards have been taken hostage, with reports of up to 125 prison guards and 14 administrative employees held in at least five prisons. Schools in the capital, Quito, and across the nation were closed on January 9.
What is the state of drug trafficking in Ecuador?
Ecuador, with a population of 18 million and once a haven of peace, is witnessing a spike in violence after becoming a major export point for cocaine produced by neighboring Peru and Colombia to Europe and the United States. Assassinations have increased by 800% between 2018 and 2023, with 7,800 murders registered and 220 tons of drugs seized in 2023 alone.
How do we interpret the strong response from the Ecuadorian president?
Daniel Noboa, elected as the youngest president in the country's history at 36, promised to restore security, making the security crisis a focal point in the last presidential elections, which were marred by the assassination of a candidate just before the first round. Analysts say that the current Ecuadorian president is taking a tougher stance than his predecessor Guillermo Lasso (2021-2023), whose confrontations with criminal bands contributed to escalating violence in the nation.
How has the international community responded?
The United States, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and even Venezuela condemned the acts of violence, while United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed profound concern over the deteriorating situation in Ecuador, mirroring the alarm of European diplomacy, which denounces "a direct attack on democracy and the rule of law." France and Russia advised their citizens against traveling to the country, and Peru declared a state of emergency along its borders.
