whatisit.com - Ecuador is facing a wave of violence and chaos as President Daniel Noboa announced a state of emergency and an 'internal armed conflict' against several drug trafficking gangs that have been terrorizing the country. The crisis escalated after the escape of Adolfo Macias, alias 'Fito', the leader of the powerful Los Choneros gang, from a low-security prison on Sunday.
Since then, the gangs have launched a series of attacks, including bombings, kidnappings, and hostage-taking, to challenge the authority of the government and demand the release of their members. On Tuesday, a group of masked men armed with guns and explosives stormed into a live TV studio in Guayaquil, the country's largest city, and threatened the staff and the viewers. The live feed was cut off and the police later arrested the intruders.
The president, who took office in October 2023 with a promise to crack down on crime, said he would not give in to the gangs' threats and ordered the military and the police to 'neutralize' them. He also designated 20 criminal groups as 'terrorist organizations' and authorized the use of force within the bounds of international humanitarian law.
Ecuador has been plagued by a surge of violence in recent years, fueled by the presence of drug cartels, mainly from Colombia and Mexico, that use the country as a transit point for cocaine shipments to the US and Europe. The gangs have also infiltrated the prisons, where they have fought bloody battles for control, killing more than 420 inmates since 2021.
The situation has sparked fear and anger among the Ecuadorian people, who have demanded more security and justice from the government. Some have also expressed frustration with the poor conditions and corruption in the prison system, which allowed the escape of Macias and another dangerous gang leader, Fabricio Colon, on Monday.
The international community has expressed its concern and solidarity with Ecuador, and offered its support to help restore peace and stability in the country. The US State Department said it was 'closely monitoring' the situation and condemned the 'cowardly acts of violence' by the gangs. It also praised the 'courage and professionalism' of the Ecuadorian security forces and reaffirmed its 'strong partnership' with the Noboa administration.
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