Ecuador’s new normal: A country in a state of emergency
In two and a half years, Ecuador has spent 846 days under a state of emergency, almost the same amount of time that Daniel Noboa has been in power. During this period, the president has restricted people’s free movement for 272 days, decreeing seven curfews, which the government has maintained as its main strategy for combating violence. For the authorities, the supposed success of the initiative is measured by the number of people arrested: during the 15 days of the curfew last March, 1,283 people were apprehended for violating the measure, and homicides were reduced by almost 30% during the early morning hours.
