海角大神

A live broadcast by Ecuadorean聽television station TC was interrupted on Jan. 9 by聽balaclava-clad gunmen, the most dramatic recent example of a聽renewed explosion of violence in the previously tranquil South聽American country.

New president Daniel Noboa has pledged to hit back at the聽rising crime that stymied his predecessor, but he faces an聽uphill battle amid gang control of prisons, kidnappings of聽police, and bombings.

Why has Ecuador鈥檚 security deteriorated?

Security in Ecuador has been worsening since the coronavirus聽pandemic, which also brutally battered the economy.

Violent deaths nationally rose to 8,008 in 2023, the聽government has said, nearly double the 2022 figure of over聽4,500. Ecuador鈥檚 presidential contest last year was marred by聽the assassination of an anti-corruption candidate.

The government blames the situation on the growing reach聽of cocaine-trafficking gangs, who have destabilized swathes of聽the continent.

Inside Ecuador鈥檚 prisons, the gangs have taken advantage of聽the state鈥檚 weak control to expand their power. Prison violence聽has become increasingly common, resulting in hundreds of deaths聽in incidents authorities have blamed on gang battles to control聽the jails.

Guayaquil, a coastal city that is Ecuador鈥檚 largest, is聽considered the country鈥檚 most dangerous, with its ports a hub聽for drug smuggling.

Mr. Noboa took office in November touting his 鈥淧hoenix Plan鈥� for聽security, including a new intelligence unit, tactical weapons聽for security forces, new high-security prisons, and reinforced聽security at ports and airports.

It will cost some $800 million, he said, though $200 million聽in new weapons for the army will be provided by the United聽States.

What caused this week鈥檚 flare-up of violence?

Police said on Sunday that Adolfo Macias, leader of the Los聽Choneros criminal gang, had disappeared from the prison where he聽was serving a 34-year sentence. Authorities are trying to track聽him down.

Meanwhile, there were incidents of violence in at least six聽prisons beginning on Jan. 8, with 150 or more guards and other聽staff taken hostage by prisoners. A prison in Riobamba saw 39聽inmates escape, though some have been recaptured.

By Jan. 9 violence had spread to the streets, with seven聽police officers kidnapped in incidents around the country and聽five explosions confirmed in several cities, though there were聽no injuries.

Mr. Noboa, who has said he will not negotiate with 鈥渢errorists,鈥澛爃as said the violence is a reaction to his government鈥檚 plans to聽build a new high-security prison for jailed gang leaders.

What is the government doing to tackle the problem?聽

In an updated decree published the afternoon of Jan. 9, Mr. Noboa聽said he recognized an 鈥渋nternal armed conflict鈥� in Ecuador and聽identified several criminal gangs as terrorist groups, including聽Los Choneros. The decree ordered the armed forces to neutralize聽the groups.

Mr. Noboa鈥檚 coalition has a majority in the national assembly,聽something Lasso lacked, but some Ecuadoreans are questioning why the president is not taking harsher measures against gangs.

Mr. Noboa plans to hold a security-focused plebiscite later this聽year, which would include asking the public if the government聽should undo a ban on the extradition of Ecuadoreans wanted聽abroad and if asset seizures from suspected criminals should be聽allowed.

This story was reported by Reuters.