Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has been in Florida since Thursday attending personal matters and is expected to return to the country next Tuesday. Ecuador has been facing an internal armed conflict since 2024; Noboa has declared a war against organized crime gangs, which he now refers to as terrorists.
Criminal organizations have been responsible for a significant rise in violence in Ecuador, making it the country with the highest homicide rate in Latin America in 2023. The year 2025 has begun as the most violent year recorded, with an average of approximately one murder per hour. Even local authorities, prosecutors investigating drug trafficking, and politicians like Fernando Villavicencio have been affected by this wave of violence.
Recently, an intelligence report from the Joint Command of the Armed Forces warned about the alleged planning of terrorist attacks against President Noboa and his team. According to Ecuador's Ministry of Government, there have been mentions of possible arrival of hitmen from Mexico and other countries to carry out these attacks.
The Armed Forces have also alerted about possible attacks on bridges, banks, and other state institutions, as well as the planning of protests that could turn violent. In light of these threats, the Ecuadorian State has declared a maximum alert and activated all security protocols to neutralize any risk.
The Government strongly condemns any attempt to threaten the life of the president and other authorities, stating that these actions seek to destabilize the country and undermine democracy. It has been assured that Ecuador will respond with full force to any possible attacks, demonstrating its determination to maintain the security and stability of the State.
