Tension increases in Ecuador and state of emergency is extended for 30 days

The government of Ecuador released a decree signed on Thursday (07), where President Daniel Noboa extends the state of emergency in the country for another 30 days. The measure taken by Noboa extends the decree signed on January 8, one day before the president declared an internal armed conflict in Ecuadorian territory.

The adoption of the state of emergency comes from the wave of extreme violence that has taken place in Ecuador, resulting from attacks by criminal groups, classified by Noboa as “terrorists”. Ecuador is also facing a rise in prison escapes, including that of gang leader and drug trafficker Adolfo Macías, known as “Fito”, who remains missing and is the most wanted fugitive in the country.

The growing conflict between criminal gangs and the Ecuadorian government led the country's electoral court to schedule a referendum for April 21, with the aim of discussing measures to strengthen the country's security, actions to combat organized crime and reform of the constitution.

_{Ecuadorian Marines guarding the entrance to a penitentiary (Photo: reproduction/José Sanchez Lindao/Anadolu)}

Ecuadorian army takes control

Reestablishing order in Ecuador is one of Noboa's promises, who assumed the presidency in November last year. The politician counts on the work of the Armed Forces, together with the Police, to stop the actions of criminal groups. Admiral Jaime Vela, head of the Joint Command, declared on February 20 that “the Ecuadorian Armed Forces will maintain control of the country's prisons for as long as necessary.” According to Noboa, since the beginning of the year, around 12,000 people have been detained, 14 “terrorists” have been killed and 34 prisoners recaptured.

The country's Executive Branch, however, has not yet declared the number of detained people who have been criminally prosecuted.

Judges were detained in operation

Twelve people were arrested in the province of Guayas in an operation called “Purge”, coordinated by the Public Ministry of Ecuador together with the National Police, last Monday (4), and which investigates suspects involved in organized crime.

Among those detained were judges from the Court of Justice, a former deputy, a former employee of the Provincial Court of Justice and employees from the Judicial Council's management.

Authorities reported finding a variety of evidence, such as money, firearms, jewelry, documents, cell phones, among other items.

Featured Photo: Military personnel guarding a cell block in a prison in Guayaquil, Ecuador (Reproduction/Santiago Arcos/Reuters)