Experts analyze the recent actions of the president and candidate for re-election in Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, amid the presidential campaign. Johanna Paulina Espín, a teacher at a school in security and defense at the National Institute of High Studies of Ecuador, pointed out that the strategy of introducing foreign special forces into violent areas of the country seems more like a campaign announcement than an effective response to security issues.
Last Monday, Noboa announced the entry of foreign special forces into various provinces of Ecuador to combat organized crime gangs. However, consulted analysts believe that this measure could be used as an electoral tactic, while warning about the influence of the United States on Ecuador's foreign policy.
Amid these events, a bombing with two car bombs occurred at the Litoral Penitentiary in Guayaquil, the largest prison in the country. This incident left one penitentiary officer deceased and at least one person injured.
On the other hand, Noboa has expressed his intention to collaborate in the fight against violence in Ecuador with the support of Erik Prince, known for being the founder of a private military services company involved in past controversies. The electoral runoff between Noboa and the opposition candidate Luisa Gonzáles will take place on April 13, amid a situation of a "technical tie."
The Ecuadorian president has declared an "internal armed conflict" against criminal groups in the country since January 2024, in an attempt to control the rise in criminal violence and insecurity. The strategic alliance with Prince, the details of which have not been disclosed, aims to address the phenomenon of insecurity in Ecuador.
The explosion of the car bombs at the Litoral Penitentiary affected nearby businesses and caused interruptions in the area's electricity supply. Meanwhile, emergency services worked to extinguish the fire and police authorities initiated an investigation into the incident.
