Ecuador News

Martín Pallares, former editor of the 4 Pelagatos investigative news site, says arrests in the Guayas Provincial Court case and other corruption cases could have far reaching effects on Ecuador’s political landscape. “The involvement of key political figures with organized crime has been an open secret for the past three or four years,” he says....

A volcano has erupted on an island in the Galápagos where the last known survivor of a species of giant tortoise was discovered. The La Cumbre volcano on Fernandina island began erupting on Saturday night, lighting up the nighttime sky as lava tumbled down its sides toward the sea. Fernandina was home to Fernanda, a...

A former National Assemblyman and six judges are among 12 people arrested early Monday in Samborondón and Guayaquil in connection with the Metastasis corruption case. Among those taken into custody are former assemblyman Pablo Muentes and former president of the Guayas Provincial Court of Justice Fabiola Gallardo. Attorney General Diana Salazar said the arrests are...

Ecuador’s Constitutional Court ruled Friday that the 60-day state of emergency imposed by President Daniel Noboa on January 8 is constitutional. In a statement, the court said the measures adopted during the state of emergency, which include the mobilization of the police and the armed forces, are justified by circumstances. The court also said that...

By Liam Higgins As President Daniel Noboa completed the first 100 days of his presidency last week he enjoys record high levels of public support for militarizing the fight criminal gangs and cartels. Many experts say, however, that he may be ignoring problems underlying the criminality. “As the old saying goes, you can’t argue with...

In a meeting with Wall Street investors on Friday, President Daniel Noboa said Ecuador hopes to secure a $3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund in the coming weeks. Following his comments, Ecuador’s country’s risk rating fell to 1,341 points, the lowest in three years. During the meeting, Noboa also detailed the progress his...

The Greenpeace research ship Arctic Sunrise arrived in the Galapagos Islands Thursday to begin a six-week study of Galapagos Marine Reserve ecosystems. The ship docked in Puerto Ayora, the main port on Santa Cruz Island, and will begin its work next week. According to project director Ruth Robles, the Greenpeace mission is aimed at assisting...

By Liam Higgins The countdown is underway for the February 2025 national elections, whether voters are ready for it or not. “We’re all suffering from election whiplash as a result of the cross death disruptions but the next campaign has begun,” says political science professor and newspaper columnist David Chávez. He adds: “And the political...

By Ilaria Grasso Environmentalists and tourism groups have hailed the Ecuadorian government’s decision to double the entry fee to the Galapagos National Park for foreign visitors, with the proceeds going to fund conservation and sustainability projects in the islands. Entry for Ecuadorian residents will increase from $6 to $30. From 1 August 2024, entry prices...

Ecuadorians continue to rank public security as the country’s most important issue, according to new public opinion surveys. Overwhelmingly, they also say that the “internal conflict” with organized criminal gangs is affecting their employment and businesses. A survey by Multitrabajos showed 55% of respondents rated security their number one concern followed by unemployment and underemployment...