Ecuador imposes state of emergency to fight fires and crime

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa declared a new state of emergency to contain crime, while the process for the general elections in February gains traction and forest fires ravage the country.

The state of emergency will remain in force for two months and cover the provinces of Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, El Oro and Santa Elena, the Amazonian province of Orellana, Ponce Enríquez canton in Azuay province, which is a small-scale mining area with high criminal activity, and metropolitan Quito.

With the exception of Quito, a curfew will be imposed in all areas from 10pm to 5am.

According to experts, the state of emergency is intended to control rising crime and possible outbreaks of violence, and strengthen Noboa's image.

The decree states that criminal groups in Ecuador “are acting with an alarming level of organization and lethality.”

Chief of staff Arturo Félix Wong told a radio broadcaster that there is “sufficient information to put Quito in a state of emergency. We have seen acts considered terrorism, and this is a preventive measure to avoid any disturbance against the city and the people of Quito.”

He added, "we will not allow them to try to stir up the streets under the pretext of electoral issues. Since they can no longer do it in prisons, now they do it in the streets."

Cristian Carpio, an analyst at political risk consultancy Prófitas, told BNamericas that criminal groups such as the Los Lobos gang – considered an arm of Mexico's Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel – have been moving especially toward south Quito.

“In a pre-election context, the political capital is always subject to unrest, especially by armed groups, so it was necessary to protect the capital. The government wants to prevent and avoid chaos that could destabilize it politically,” Carpio said.

In late September, Ecuador suffered several forest fires. In Quito, the fires even threatened residential neighborhoods, especially in the north-central part. Police, the government and city hall attributed the fires to intentional actions.

Deputy police commander Fausto Buenaño told reporters that the fires could not be attributed to arsonists but to those who sought to disrupt order by causing fires simultaneously in various parts of the city.

Former intelligence director Mario Pazmiño told BNamericas that the fires in Quito, Guayaquil and other major cities "are planned actions, which seek to cause commotion and prevent the government from reacting, creating an image of inefficiency, in the midst of the upcoming electoral process."

On October 2, the electoral council closed the registration period for candidates for the elections. According to local pollsters, Noboa, María José Pinto, Luisa González and Diego Borja are currently leading in voting intentions.

The electoral campaign should take place between January 5 and February 6. Elections are scheduled for February 9, and the runoff, if required, for April 13.