Rising Violence in Ecuador: A Closer Look at the Mano Dura Policies

Ecuador was once considered a peaceful tourist destination with a homicide rate of under seven per 100,000, similar to that of the United States. However, by 2023, the homicide rate had skyrocketed to almost 45 per 100,000, making it the deadliest country in mainland Latin America. The surge in violence in Ecuador can be attributed to the rise of organized crime, particularly focused on smuggling cocaine from Colombia to Europe through Ecuadorian ports.

In response to the escalating violence, governments in the region have adopted mano dura policies. These policies include declaring states of emergency, mass incarceration without discrimination, and deploying the military to maintain order on the streets. These tactics have been inspired by the perceived success of similar strategies in El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele declared a state of emergency in March 2022 following a weekend where 87 people were killed by gangs. The government subsequently incarcerated nearly 80,000 individuals, resulting in a significant drop in the homicide rate and a surge in the popularity of President Bukele.

President Daniel Noboa of Ecuador also proposed tougher anti-crime measures after seeing what had worked in El Salvador. These measures include overturning a constitutional ban on extradition of criminals and allowing the army to permanently patrol streets and prisons. With these new measures in place, Ecuador is hoping to curb the rising violence and restore a sense of safety and security for its citizens.

Durán city was labeled as one of world’s most violent cities with murder rate at 148 per 100