During a live broadcast at TC Televisión in Guayaquil, Ecuador, armed and masked men stormed the studio, taking journalists and staff hostage. The assailants, identified as 'Tiguerones', demanded not to be approached by police and forced a journalist to relay this message. The siege, which lasted about 30 minutes, ended when police intervened, leading to the arrest of 13 attackers, including two minors. The incident was part of a day of terror in Ecuador with multiple attacks, and it highlighted the vulnerability of journalists in the country.

Ecuador's largest prisons, La Penitenciaría del Litoral and La Regional in Guayaquil, are controlled by inmates who manage the facilities and orchestrate drug trafficking and organized crime from within. Seven criminal gangs, including Los Choneros led by José Adolfo Macías, alias Fito, dominate the prisons. Recent violence, including a massacre in February 2021 and a series of attacks following the disappearance of Fito, has challenged the government's control. The SNAI is accused of unprecedented corruption, allowing contraband and weapons into prisons, as reported by the CIDH. The prison system's self-governance and internal economy, with leaders charging for better accommodations, reflect the state's neglect and lack of comprehensive criminal policy.

In 2023, nine Ecuadorian journalists were forced into exile due to life-threatening situations created by organized crime. Karol Noboa, who reported on criminal gangs and their activities, was the first to flee. The NGO Fundamedios recorded 219 threats against journalists and media outlets in Ecuador between January and October. Journalists face the impossibility of reporting attacks or seeking police protection due to suspected collusion with organized crime. The situation is exacerbated in the Amazon region, where journalists also contend with tensions over oil and mineral deposits. Civil society has established the Protection Table for Journalists to provide financial aid to those in exile. Of the nine journalists who fled, only Anderson Boscán and Mónica Velásquez have returned and resumed their work, while the others remain in hiding, relying on international support.

Ecuador's Vice President Verónica Abad reluctantly accepted President Daniel Noboa's unusual assignment to go to Israel as a collaborator for peace, marking Noboa's first decision since taking office on November 23. This move was interpreted as Noboa wanting Abad out of the country, following a public acknowledgment of their split since their unexpected advancement to the second round of elections in August. The rift between Noboa and Abad, evident since the first round of the campaign, was exacerbated by legislative agreements with Rafael Correa's Revolución Ciudadana and controversial statements by Abad. Noboa has also restructured the Vice Presidency, reducing it significantly. Abad, determined to ensure constitutional stability, has requested a meeting with Noboa, but the President's communication team has arranged for the Foreign Minister to meet with her instead.

Ecuador's new president, Daniel Noboa, broke his silence since the election day to address Rafael Correa's intention to impeach the State's attorney general, Diana Salazar, which Noboa opposes. Correa's party, Revolución Ciudadana, along with PSC, hold significant weight in the Assembly, where Noboa's alliance has only 14 members. Political analyst Santiago Basabe and politologist Ariana Tanca discuss the challenges Noboa faces, including a high homicide rate, the need for medical supplies in hospitals, and the potential impact of his cabinet choices. Noboa's strategy of silence may harm his political capital, and he must navigate complex scenarios to complete his term and consider re-election.

On August 20, 60% of Ecuadorians voted to halt oil exploitation in the Yasuní reserve, one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet. However, President Guillermo Lasso has expressed his intention to continue oil production in block 43, disregarding the referendum. The Constitutional Court of Ecuador had ruled that if the referendum resulted in a 'yes', the state must not initiate new contracts for oil exploitation in block 43 and must take immediate measures to repair nature. Despite this, the state oil company Petroecuador plans to continue drilling until December 2023. Environmental group Yasunidos, which promoted the referendum, is concerned about the high investment in capital and the environmental impact. The Constitutional Court has given a one-year deadline from the official notification of the results to execute the referendum's outcome, which includes stopping oil production and addressing cultural, social, and environmental damages.

The murder of Letty Cando has sparked outrage in Ecuador. The confessed murderer admitted to raping her, stabbing her three times in the heart, cutting her body into seven pieces, and burying her in a swampy area of Guangüiltagua Park, north of Quito, on the morning of September 3. This is the latest case of gender violence in a country that has seen 362 crimes against women in 2023. Cando, a 33-year-old nurse, was reported missing after not showing up for work for three days. The perpetrator, Jhonny Caiza, was found to have taken her to his home, raped, and dismembered her. The Ecuadorian Prosecutor's Office is investigating Caiza, who is currently detained for involuntary disappearance resulting in death, with the potential to reclassify the crime as femicide, punishable by up to 34 years in prison. Evidence such as Cando's purse and burned clothing remnants were found at Caiza's residence, along with other women's clothing pieces, which will be tested for DNA to determine if there are other victims.

Presidential campaigning in Ecuador concluded with heightened security measures following the assassination of candidate Fernando Villavicencio. Candidates Christian Zurita, Daniel Noboa, Luisa González, Otto Sonnenholzner, Jan Topic, and Yaku Pérez held their final rallies in various cities, with many wearing bulletproof vests due to the threat of violence. The campaign was marked by incidents such as a shootout at Noboa's rally and controversies like Topic's family company being involved in an audit over security camera contracts. The country now enters a period of electoral silence before the vote on August 20.

The final days of the electoral campaign in Ecuador were marked by heightened security measures for candidates due to violence. Christian Zurita, who took over the presidential candidacy for Movimiento Construye after the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio, held his first and last political rally in Quito with a bulletproof vest. In Guayaquil, Daniel Noboa's caravan dispersed amid gunfire, though the Interior Minister dismissed it as an attack on the candidate. The presidential duo from Revolución Ciudadana led by former president Rafael Correa campaigned in Guayaquil, while other candidates like Otto Sonnenholzner and Yaku Pérez also took security precautions. Xavier Hervas suspended his campaign activities following Villavicencio's murder. The electoral silence period began, leading up to the vote on August 20 amidst a wave of violence and threats of terrorist attacks.

On August 10, Quito's financial district was paralyzed by fear following the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, who was killed in a shooting that left 64 shell casings. The attack is part of a wave of terror in Ecuador, with President Guillermo Lasso declaring a 60-day emergency and stating that organized crime is challenging the rule of law and attempting to sabotage the upcoming August 20 elections. Villavicencio had previously received threats linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. Despite the violence, the electoral campaign will resume. Villavicencio's death follows an attack on Manta's mayor, Agustín Intriago. The police have arrested six Colombians with criminal records in connection with the assassination, but details remain unclear. The Choneros, a narcotrafficking group working with the Sinaloa Cartel, are among the criminal organizations involved. The country is on high alert during the electoral campaign, with Lasso vowing not to surrender democratic institutions to organized crime. Christian Zurita has been chosen to replace Villavicencio as the presidential candidate for the Construye party.

The presidential debate in Ecuador focused on violence, with candidates agreeing on the need for tougher measures and better-equipped security forces but lacking details on implementation and funding. The debate, constrained by a rigid format, covered economic policy, social welfare, democracy, and sustainability. The assassination of candidate Fernando Villavicencio overshadowed the event, with uncertainty about the political landscape. Luisa González, from the Revolución Ciudadana party, was the favorite, with Otto Sonneholzner and Yaku Pérez also contenders. The candidates proposed various measures to tackle crime and corruption, with an emphasis on security to attract investment. The unresolved issue of governance with the next Assembly was not addressed. Ecuadorians will vote in early presidential and legislative elections on August 20, following a 'cross-death' that dissolved the legislature amid a political trial against President Guillermo Lasso. The FBI is assisting in the investigation of Villavicencio's murder, with six Colombians detained.

The assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in Quito has exposed the extent of criminal networks in Ecuador, linked to Mexican cartels and Colombian hitmen. Six Colombian suspects have been arrested, with two identified as the shooters. Villavicencio, who had previously reported threats from a drug gang leader, was killed after leaving a rally. The investigation has revealed connections to various criminal organizations and has prompted assistance from the FBI. Ecuador faces a significant security crisis as it becomes a strategic point for cocaine trafficking between South America and the world.

Ecuador is experiencing a wave of violence that began on July 23 at the Litoral Penitentiary in Guayaquil, resulting in 31 dismembered and burned individuals and 14 injured. The violence spread to 13 other prisons, where inmates went on hunger strikes and took over 100 penitentiary guides hostage. The unrest spilled into the streets with vehicles being set ablaze in Guayaquil. In Esmeraldas, a bomb attack injured one person. Local authorities responded with increased police presence, suspension of classes, and telework for some public entities. The hunger strike ended after three days, and hostages were released. The crisis was attributed to a broken alliance between the Tiguerones and Lobos gangs, linked to the Mexican Jalisco New Generation cartel. President Guillermo Lasso authorized military intervention, and the government declared the operation to stop the massacre a success.

Ecuador faces a wave of violence starting July 23 with prison massacres at Penitenciaría del Litoral in Guayaquil, leading to 31 inmates dismembered and burned, and 14 injured. President Guillermo Lasso declared a state of emergency for all prisons. The violence spread to 13 other prisons with hunger strikes and over 100 penitentiary guides taken hostage. The chaos spilled into the streets with vehicles set ablaze and a bomb exploding in Esmeraldas. Local authorities responded with increased police presence, suspension of classes, and telework for some public entities. The crisis, which began with a gang alliance breakdown between Tiguerones and Lobos, was deemed under control after military intervention authorized by Lasso.

On July 23, Agustín Intriago, the mayor of Manta, Ecuador, was assassinated during a tour of sewer works in the 15 de Septiembre neighborhood, leaving four others injured and a young athlete, Ariana Chancay, dead. Manta, a key port city for drug trafficking, has been historically significant for the transit of drugs from Colombia. The murder coincides with a tense electoral campaign and a violent weekend in Ecuador, including potential uprisings in prisons. Security expert Mario Pazmiño notes the overflow of cocaine in the country and the involvement of Mexican cartels like Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation. The government's response to the violence and prison unrest has been criticized for lack of transparency.

On July 23, Agustín Intriago, the mayor of Manta, Ecuador, was assassinated, receiving six shots, mostly to the chest, while touring a sewer project. The attack also injured four and killed Ariana Chancay, an athlete seeking assistance for her team's uniforms. Manta, a key port for drug trafficking, has been historically significant for the transit of drugs from Colombia. The murder occurred amid heightened violence in Ecuador, including potential prison riots. Security analyst Mario Pazmiño highlighted the port's role in the drug trade, exacerbated by the pandemic. The weekend's violence also saw clashes at the Penitenciaría del Litoral in Guayaquil, with six prisoners dead and 11 injured, and prison security agents held by criminal groups.

The Quito cable car incident left 74 people stranded, with 27 trapped in cabins for ten hours. The rescue operation, involving the Quito Fire Department and Police, lasted nearly ten hours under challenging conditions. Mayor Pabel Muñoz criticized the cable car company's lack of a clear rescue protocol. The service has been suspended, and the municipality will review its permits and maintenance records.

Ecuador is preparing for early presidential and legislative elections on August 20, following President Guillermo Lasso's dissolution of Parliament amidst political trials. The election, activated for the first time under the 2008 Constitution's provision, sees eight candidates vying for power in a fragmented landscape, with the correísmo movement's candidate Luisa González leading in polls. The next government will only serve for 18 months, and candidates are campaigning amidst public discontent and a desire for stability. The electoral process unfolds amid fears of the El Niño phenomenon and a security crisis marked by high crime rates, pushing many Ecuadorians towards migration.

On June 18, residents of Comité del Pueblo in Quito, Ecuador, clashed with a criminal gang, using rocks and Molotov cocktails. The police intervened, resulting in one gang member's death. The violence was a response to the gang's threats and a recent assault on a young woman. The gang, led by La Pastora, who has been arrested multiple times, retreated after the police's arrival but later returned to threaten the neighborhood. Despite no hard evidence against La Pastora, the gang continued to terrorize local businesses. Meanwhile, President Guillermo Lasso spoke about strengthening the police force with 8,500 new officers.

Bella Montoya Castro, initially declared dead at Babahoyo hospital in Quito, Ecuador, was found to be alive during her funeral. Her son Gilber Barberán and guests heard noises from the coffin, leading to the discovery. She was taken back to the hospital and is now in intensive care with a reserved diagnosis. The Ministry of Health has initiated an investigation into the incident.