Ecuador State of Emergency: Gang Violence Escalation

CQ Press Lecture Spark JANUARY 22, 2024 Connecting current events to your International Relations classroom

Ecuador Declares State of Emergency Amid Ongoing Violence Earlier this month Jose Adolfo Macias known as Fito the gang leader of Los Choneros, escaped from a prison in the Ecuadorian port city of Guayaquil. Fito s escape was the catalyst for a wave of gang violence that has swept the South American country of nearly 18 million. Fito was serving a sentence of 38 years for a variety of crimes. The gang in which he leads is involved in a multitude of criminal activities including extortion, drug trafficking, and murder. In response Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has declared a 60-day state of emergency. As a result of the state of emergency the military has been deployed and a curfew has been implemented. What is happening in Ecuador? 2

Ecuador Declares State of Emergency Amid Ongoing Violence Mr. Noboa is Ecuador s youngest serving President and has only been on the job for a few months since taking office in November. And yet the new leader inherits the greatest challenge the country has faced in modern times which is combating gang violence. The Andean nation has been overrun by gangs which are at the forefront of the illicit drug trade. The trafficking of cocaine by the Ecuadorian gangs to the U.S. and Europe has provided the criminal enterprises with revenue which they in turn have used to corrupt institutions such as the judicial, political, and prison systems within Ecuador. What is the greatest challenge Ecuador has faced in modern times? 3

Background and Key Concepts Over the last few weeks violence has erupted in Ecuador due to gang violence. Some of which include the taking of hostages at a prison where more than 180 correctional officers are being held captive. In addition, members of the media were threatened when a group of armed men stormed a television station, and subsequently murdered the prosecutor investigating the attack. There are fears that Ecuador could become a narco-state. While the Ecuadorian military recently intercepted a submarine transporting cocaine for the most part the country lacks the ability to seriously thwart drug trafficking. Ecuadorian President Noboa has redefined over twenty armed groups as terrorist organizations and has ordered the armed forces to neutralize them. Mr. Noboa has also accepted U.S. assistance in the form of law enforcement, military, and diplomatic personnel. While his critics have decried the move as interventionism by Washington. Ecuadorian lawmakers are currently considering a tax bill that would raise revenue to help combat the gangs, even though the country is in debt. Some of the explanations for the explosion in violence concerns high poverty rates among the young which was exacerbated by the pandemic and a power struggle among Ecuadorian gangs to control the drug trade. It remains to be seen what the impact of instability in Ecuador will have on people potentially fleeing the country. Analysists speculate it could lead to some Ecuadorians heading north to the U.S. in search of safety and more opportunities. 4

Assessment Writing: What is the significance of violence in Ecuador? Debate: What are the reasons for the uptick in violence in Ecuador? Poll: Should the U.S. intervene in Ecuador to stop the violence? Short Answer: What are the ramifications if Ecuador becomes a narco-state? 5