Ecuador Security Crisis

Ecuador’s rapid transformation from one of Latin America’s safest countries to one of its most violent. Key events:

• 2021: Over 450 inmates killed in prison massacres. The September Guayaquil riot was one of the bloodiest in Latin American history.
• August 2023: Anti-corruption presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio assassinated at a campaign rally.
• January 2024: Los Choneros leader “Fito” escaped prison, triggering armed attacks across the country. President Noboa declared a state of internal armed conflict, designating 22 groups as terrorist entities.
• 2025: Deadliest year in Ecuador’s history (homicide rate ~51 per 100,000).