Background on President Daniel Noboa and His Relevance
Daniel Noboa, the President of Ecuador, has taken decisive action to address a concerning surge in violent deaths within his country. As the head of state, Noboa’s decisions directly impact the safety and well-being of Ecuadorian citizens. His recent declaration of a state of exception in nine provinces and three cantons reflects his commitment to ensuring public security amidst rising violence.
Details of the State of Exception Decree
Provinces and Cantons Affected:
- Guayas
- Manabí
- Santa Elena
- Los Ríos
- El Oro
- Pichincha
- Esmeraldas
- Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas
- La Maná (Cotopaxi)
- Las Naves (Bolívar)
- Echeandía (Bolívar)
Duration and Measures:
- The state of exception will be in effect for 60 days.
- During this period, the inviolability of homes and mail will be suspended.
Suspension of Inviolability Measures:
- Home Inviolability Suspension: Allows law enforcement immediate entry and search of properties if there are reasonable grounds to suspect the presence of organized armed groups or criminal organizations.
- Mail Inviolability Suspension: Enables the identification, analysis, and collection of information “strictly relevant” to prevent or mitigate threats related to the motivating factors for the state of exception.
Justification for Measures:
- The decision stems from a 18% increase in violent deaths (intentional homicides) between November 1, 2025, and December 23, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.
- Statistical analysis highlights that the provinces of Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, El Oro, Pichincha, Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, and Santa Elena account for 92.1% of the nation’s violence.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the state of exception? It’s a temporary measure allowing extraordinary powers to address a crisis, in this case, rising violent deaths.
- Which provinces and cantons are affected? Guayas, Manabí, Santa Elena, Los Ríos, El Oro, Pichincha, Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, La Maná (Cotopaxi), Las Naves (Bolívar), and Echeandía (Bolívar).
- How long will the state of exception last? The measure will be in effect for 60 days.
- What changes under the state of exception? The inviolability of homes and mail is suspended, allowing law enforcement greater flexibility in investigations.
- Why was the state of exception declared? Due to an 18% increase in violent deaths between November 1, 2025, and December 23, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.
- Which provinces concentrate most of the violence? Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, El Oro, Pichincha, Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, and Santa Elena account for 92.1% of the nation’s violence.
