- Ecuador issues high alert over alleged assassination plot against President Daniel Noboa
- Warning follows contested election victory against leftist candidate Luisa González
- Government blames criminal structuresand political opponents for alleged threats
- Critics claim unsubstantiated warnings aim to suppress post-election dissent
Ecuador’s government declared a nationwide security emergency Saturday after citing unverified intelligence about a potential assassination attempt targeting President Daniel Noboa. The Ministry of Government’s social media announcement described plans for terrorist attacksand mass protests, though officials provided no concrete evidence to support these claims. This development comes just days after electoral authorities confirmed Noboa’s re-election victory by a decisive margin exceeding one million ballots.
The administration’s warning intensifies political tensions following a contentious election cycle marked by Noboa’s hardline approach to gang violence. Since declaring an internal armed conflictin January 2024, the president has deployed military forces to combat drug cartels, temporarily reducing homicide rates in major cities like Guayaquil. However, experts note this strategy has displaced criminal activity to rural provinces, mirroring patterns seen in Mexico’s drug war during the late 2000s.
Government officials allege defeated political factions are collaborating with international criminal networks to destabilize the country. A viral military intelligence report – still unconfirmed by defense authorities – suggests Mexican cartels may be recruiting mercenaries to target Ecuadorean leadership. This parallels 2023’s cross-border security pact between Ecuador and Colombia, initiated after three mayors near the northern border suffered assassination attempts.
Opposition leader Luisa González condemned the assassination warnings as politically motivated, accusing Noboa of manufacturing crises to justify authoritarian measures. These baseless alerts reveal a government terrified of legitimate scrutiny,González stated on X, referencing ongoing challenges to election integrity claims. Her supporters point to Nicaragua’s 2021 election crackdown as a cautionary example of security rhetoric enabling democratic backsliding.
Regional analysts identify three critical factors reshaping Ecuador’s security landscape: increased Mexican cartel influence following Peru’s cocaine production boom, weapon smuggling through compromised maritime routes, and social media’s amplification of unverified intelligence. The government’s decision to publicize threats without evidence reflects growing global trends of leaders using security narratives to consolidate power during political turmoil.
