Ecuadorean mayors seek police protection amid spiraling violence

In Ecuador, violence has become a serious issue, with 45 mayors requesting police protection in the past year. The president of the Association of Ecuadorean Municipalities (AME) revealed that 22 local officials have died in violent circumstances since 2023. This comes as the country faces a national crackdown on criminal groups, with President Daniel Noboa declaring a state of emergency in January and labeling 22 gangs as terrorist organizations. The situation worsened when armed men took over a television channel in Guayaquil and held over a hundred prison guards hostage.

Recently, the crisis escalated further with the tragic deaths of Brigitte Garcia, the 27-year-old mayor of San Vicente, and Jairo Loor, her communications director. Their bodies were discovered in a car in the province of Manabi, both having been shot to death. Garcia, who represented a city on Ecuador’s coast, was the second mayor to be killed since 2023. Agustin Intriago, the mayor of Manta, was also killed during a neighborhood tour in July 2023, just before the assassination of anti-corruption presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in Quito.

According to Homero Castanier, the president of the AME, 17 Ecuadorean mayors have been provided police security by the government, while others have opted to hire private security for protection. Galo Meza, the mayor of Balzar in Guayas province, shared a harrowing incident where gunmen fired 65 shots at his house while his family was inside. The risks faced by mayors are significant, with many working in fear while surrounded by firearms and wearing bulletproof vests.

Organized crime groups have infiltrated various levels of society in Ecuador, posing a threat to the safety of mayors across the country. Coastal municipalities are particularly vulnerable to attacks, given the prevalence of drug smuggling through the nation’s ports, including in Guayaquil. Castanier emphasized the need for thorough risk analysis for every mayor to prevent potential attacks, highlighting the importance of early warnings in ensuring their safety.

President Noboa, who assumed office late last year following a runoff election, commented on Garcia’s tragic killing as a stark reminder of the infiltration of narco-terrorists into public institutions. The ongoing violence and threats faced by Ecuadorean mayors underscore the challenges posed by criminal organizations and the need for enhanced security measures to protect those serving their communities.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Paul Simao)