Ecuador News

Ecuadorians are casting their votes in a presidential election characterized by escalating drug-related violence linked to the cocaine trade. Current President Daniel Noboa and challenger Luisa González emerged as front-runners among 16 candidates, both pledging to address the nation’s rising crime rates, which have shaped voter sentiment since the 2023 elections, according to the Associated Press. The increase in violence in Ecuador has seen the homicide rate decline from 46.18 per 100,000 individuals in 2023 to 38.76 per 100,000 in 2024, although it remains significantly higher than the 6.85 per 100,000 recorded in 2019. Mandatory voting has drawn over 13.7 million eligible voters, with concerns about personal safety and gang extortion influencing choices at the polls. Voter sentiment is marked by frustration, particularly with Noboa's leadership. Marta Barres, a mother of three, articulated dissatisfaction with the current administration, stating, “Can he change things in four more years? No.” Meanwhile, González's campaign, associated with former President Rafael Correa, has faced challenges similar to her opponent in addressing crime and corruption. If no candidate secures a majority, a runoff is set for April 13, 2025.

Ecuador's presidential election will see incumbent Daniel Noboa and leftist rival Luisa González face off in a runoff scheduled for April 13, 2025, following a tightly contested first round. With over 92% of ballots counted, Noboa received 44.31%, just 45,000 votes ahead of González, in a closely monitored election involving approximately 13.7 million registered voters. Candidates required over 50% or a minimum 40% and a 10-point lead to win outright in the first round. This election serves as a referendum on Noboa's brief presidency, which has been marked by controversial security measures aimed at combating drug trafficking. González, a former congresswoman backed by the leftist Correísmo movement, celebrated her performance as a significant achievement against Noboa, stating, "This victory belongs to you." Noboa, who emphasized his outsider status despite his political role, expressed gratitude to voters and recognized the challenges ahead. The turnout was reported at 83.4%, and despite the tense atmosphere—including past violence in Ecuador's electoral history—international observers noted that voting proceeded without major incidents.

Ecuadorians are casting their votes in a presidential election overshadowed by an alarming rise in drug-related violence linked to cocaine trafficking from neighboring Colombia and Peru. In a repeat of the 2023 race, incumbent President Daniel Noboa and former leftist candidate Luisa González are emerging as frontrunners among 16 candidates, each pledging to tackle the nation’s escalating crime rates. Voting is mandatory in Ecuador, with more than 13.7 million citizens eligible to participate. To secure an outright victory, a candidate must obtain 50% of the vote or at least 40% with a 10-point lead over nearest competitors. Voters, like Marta Barres, are reflecting on their experiences; Barres expressed skepticism about Noboa’s ability to enact change, stating, “Can he change things in four more years? No.” Noboa, who has been in office since 2023, notably reduced the homicide rate but acknowledges it remains significantly higher than in 2019. As political tensions rise, voters articulate concerns over deep-seated corruption, which many feel undermines any efforts to improve safety.

Ecuador's presidential election is set for a runoff on April 13, as conservative incumbent Daniel Noboa and leftist rival Luisa González end the first round in a statistical tie. With over 92% of votes counted, Noboa garnered 44.31% while González trailed closely behind by just 45,000 votes, according to the National Electoral Council. To win outright, candidates needed over 50% of the votes, or at least 40% with a 10-point lead. Noboa's presidency has faced scrutiny during his brief 15-month term, marked by a controversial security policy aimed at tackling drug trafficking and increasing violence in Ecuador. González, a former congresswoman, celebrated the close result as a "great victory" for the left, asserting that this electoral show of strength signals public discontent with Noboa's leadership. International observers monitored the election, which saw an 83.4% turnout, a notable figure given mandatory voting laws for citizens aged 18 to 65. The contentious political climate remains polarized between the legacy of former president Rafael Correa, backing González, and Noboa's anti-Correísmo stance.

Ecuador is grappling with a surge in violence, particularly in the city of Durán, as President Daniel Noboa seeks re-election. Since taking office in 2023, Noboa, a political outsider, pledged a firm crackdown on drug cartels, which he labeled "narco-terrorists," following a sharp rise in homicides and organized crime activities. His campaign promises have involved deploying the military to control crime-ridden areas, resulting in a nearly 20% drop in the murder rate early in his term, according to government statistics. However, recent events signal a worsening situation. January 2025 recorded 750 murders, marking it the bloodiest month in Ecuador's history, as gang violence continues unabated. Critics, including organized crime observers like Renato Rivera, argue that despite military interventions, criminal groups have merely adapted and fragmented, leading to intensified conflicts. The government's aggressive strategy has raised concerns about human rights violations, particularly following the disappearance of four young boys, reportedly taken by military personnel. Activists claim this reflects a broader pattern of violent encounters with security forces. As Noboa campaigns amid these crises, public sentiment remains divided on the effectiveness of his administration’s approach.

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa is seeking re-election this Sunday, facing significant public scrutiny over his controversial policies aimed at combating organized crime. Noboa, who has been in office for 14 months, declared an "internal armed conflict" against crime, leading to a rise in violent encounters with military forces and alleged human rights violations, according to critics and observers. Families have been affected by these policies, including the recent tragic death of Carlos Javier Vega, 19, who was shot by military personnel. Eyewitness accounts and public prosecutors disputed government claims labeling him a “terrorist” involved in an attack on a military checkpoint. Journalists and analysts, including Karol Noroña and Guillaume Long, have pointed out the increasing authoritarian tendencies of Noboa’s administration. Long also noted that Noboa has sidestepped constitutional mandates by not resigning during the campaign period and has enacted emergency decrees limiting civil liberties. As approximately 13 million Ecuadorians head to the polls, the election will serve as a critical appraisal of Noboa’s leadership, particularly as violence and crime rates remain alarmingly high in the country.

Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a pregnant woman believed to have lived over a thousand years ago in Ecuador, suggesting she may have been a victim of ritual sacrifice. The excavation, which took place in 2022, revealed that the remains, known as Burial 10, date from AD 771 to AD 953. Researchers from Cambridge University Press noted that she was approximately 17 to 20 years old and exhibited signs of trauma, including a cranial fracture and cut marks on hand bones, leading them to hypothesize about the potential for a ritualistic sacrifice. Artifacts recovered from the burial site include spondylus pendants and beads, which reflect a mixture of cultural practices from both the Manteño and Valdivian peoples. Furthermore, the burial contained a large green clay stone, an unusual inclusion linked to fertility rites in Valdivian traditions, drawing attention to the woman's burial's complex cultural significance. The findings raise questions about the nature of sacrificial practices among ancient Ecuadorian societies, highlighting the unique characteristics of her final resting place, according to the study.

A coalition of Latin American women advocates is tackling the alarming rate of child pregnancies in the region, which has the second-highest percentage of births to girls under 15 worldwide. According to the United Nations, the birth rate in 2021 was 53.2 births per 1,000 girls aged 10-14. Organizations such as the Center for Reproductive Rights and Planned Parenthood Global have initiated legal actions against countries like Ecuador and Nicaragua for failing to protect vulnerable girls. These advocates, including Catalina Martínez Coral and Marianny Sánchez Núñez, highlight the horrors faced by girls often victims of sexual violence who are forced into motherhood. Recent cases presented to the UN Human Rights Committee have revealed widespread violations of human rights and lack of access to abortion. The campaign aims not only for reparations for individual victims but also to press for broader regional reforms, including the decriminalization of abortion and the implementation of comprehensive sexual education. “Forced motherhood in Latin America is a silent epidemic,” Sánchez stated, underscoring the urgency for societal change regarding child pregnancy and sexual violence.

Ecuador's attorney general's office has confirmed that the incinerated bodies found on Christmas Eve belong to four missing boys, collectively known as the "Guayaquil Four." The boys, aged between 11 and 15, disappeared on December 8 after being apprehended by air force soldiers near their homes in Guayaquil. The tragic identification poses significant challenges to President Daniel Noboa's controversial "war on drugs," which has faced increasing scrutiny. The boys, residents of the disadvantaged Las Malvinas neighborhood, were returning home from a football game when they were detained. They were allegedly released approximately 26 miles away in an unfamiliar area before their disappearance. Initial denials from the Ministry of Defence regarding military involvement were later contradicted when the ministry admitted to the soldiers' role in their apprehension. Following the confirmation of their deaths through forensic testing, emotional protests erupted, with around 200 people gathering outside a court in Guayaquil, expressing their grief and outrage. The families of the boys are calling for justice as the government investigates the circumstances around their deaths, with 16 air force personnel being held in custody for their alleged involvement in the boys' disappearance and possible forced disappearance, which carries a severe prison sentence. This incident has ignited widespread protests across Ecuador, with experts warning that underlying tensions could lead to further violence in vulnerable communities. As the country grapples with this tragic event, public faith in the government's security strategy continues to erode.