Ecuador has declared a state of emergency in Quito and six provinces due to escalating violence from drug trafficking groups, as announced in a presidential decree on October 3, 2024.
The measure, effective for 60 days, targets the coastal provinces of Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, Santa Elena, El Oro, and the Amazonian province of Orellana, along with the capital city Quito and the mining town of Camilo Ponce Enríquez in Azuay.
The decree cites a 'serious internal disturbance and internal armed conflict' as the reason for the emergency, noting a significant rise in hostilities and the presence of organized armed groups in these areas.
As part of the emergency measures, a curfew will be enforced from 10:00 p.m. local time for seven hours in Guayas, Los Ríos, and Orellana, as well as in Ponce Enríquez.
This declaration follows a previous state of emergency that lasted for 90 days and was lifted in September. President Daniel Noboa has consistently resorted to this measure to curb organized crime, suspending rights such as freedom of assembly and the inviolability of the home.
In January, in response to a violent surge in drug trafficking, the president labeled the situation as an 'internal armed conflict,' allowing for a permanent military presence on the streets to combat various groups he described as terrorist and belligerent.
Violence has surged in Ecuador, with homicide rates skyrocketing from 6 to 47 per 100,000 inhabitants between 2018 and 2023. Although the government reports a 17% decrease in violent deaths nationwide in 2024 compared to the previous year, incidents of criminal violence, including kidnappings and extortion, continue unabated.