Ecuador under new state of emergency: Daniel Noboa intensifies the fight against organized crime
The president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, has made official a new state of emergency lasting 60 days, affecting eight provinces and three strategic municipalities in the country. This measure responds to the need to combat the serious internal unrest caused by the rise of organized crime structures operating in various regions of Ecuadorian territory.
Territorial scope of the measure
The executive decree covers the provinces of El Oro, Esmeraldas, Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, Pichincha, Santa Elena, and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. Additionally, the provision extends to the municipalities of Camilo Ponce Enríquez in the province of Azuay, Las Naves in Bolívar, and La Maná in Cotopaxi.
One of the key points of this state of exception is the temporary suspension of the inviolability of the home. This power grants the National Police and the Armed Forces the ability to execute immediate raids upon any sign of criminal activity.
Curfew in coastal provinces
As a complement to security actions, a nightly curfew has been established that will restrict mobility in the provinces of El Oro, Manabí, Guayas, and Los Ríos. The measure will be in effect from September 17 to September 30, between the hours of 00:00 and 05:00.
The authorities have based this decision on intelligence reports that warn about the diversification of funding sources for criminal groups, allowing them to constantly adapt to public security operations.
Alofoke DeportesSecurity context in Ecuador
- This is the third curfew implemented in the country during the year 2026.
- Ecuador has maintained the declaration of an internal armed conflict in effect since 2024 as the central axis of the government’s security policy.
- Official figures reflect a constant challenge regarding violence, with homicide records that reached critical levels at the end of last year.
Noboa’s government continues to bet on these extraordinary interventions to regain control in areas where organized crime has attempted to consolidate its illicit operations, reaffirming its commitment to national security.
