In view of the escalating gang violence in Ecuador, President Daniel Noboa has declared the clashes between criminal gangs and security forces as an internal armed conflict.
The armed forces would be ordered to carry out operations against around 20 criminal organizations, it said in a decree published on Tuesday. The gangs are terrorist organizations and non-state warring parties that must be destroyed, it said.
Shortly before, armed men broke into the premises of the state television station TC Televisión in the port city of Guayaquil during a live broadcast and took several journalists and employees hostage. Special police units later brought the television station back under control and arrested numerous suspects.
Government declares state of emergency
Due to chaotic conditions in the prisons, the government of the South American country only declared a state of emergency on Monday. Criminal gangs fought violently in prisons and took guards hostage. According to the prison administration, the head of the powerful gang “Los Choneros”, Adolfo Macías alias “Fito”, apparently managed to escape.
Violence has increased dramatically in Ecuador in recent years. With around 25 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, one of the highest values in Latin America was recorded in 2022. Many of the overcrowded prisons are controlled by criminal organizations and fights between gangs often occur there.
