Ecuadorans Head to the Polls as Country Grapples with Devastating Drug-Fueled Violence
In a vote that has been dubbed a referendum on "security and order," nearly 14 million Ecuadorians cast their ballots Sunday, weighing in on whether to lift a constitutional ban on foreign military bases - a move strongly backed by President Daniel Noboa. The proposal aims to help the country tackle spiraling violence fueled by cocaine trafficking.
According to polls, more than 61 percent of voters support allowing foreign troops to return, specifically from the United States, which last operated at Manta airbase between 1999 and 2009 as part of anti-narcotics efforts. This comes as Ecuador faces a homicide rate projected to hit 50 per 100,000 people this year - the highest in Latin America.
President Noboa, a right-wing leader who took office in November 2023, has pushed for increased security measures in response to rising violence. He has deployed soldiers to the streets and prisons, launched raids on gang strongholds, declared states of emergency, and tightened security at key infrastructure hubs.
The situation has been marked by unprecedented bloodshed, with over 4,600 murders reported so far this year - a record high according to Ecuador's Organized Crime Observatory. The recent capture in Spain of Wilmer Geovanny Chavarria Barre, also known as "Pipo," leader of the notorious Los Lobos gang, has been cited by Noboa as a major blow to organized crime.
Critics, however, question whether military force alone can address the crisis. Former President Rafael Correa has described the return of foreign forces as an "insult to our public forces and an assault to our sovereignty," arguing that the country needs "government" over "soldiers."
The referendum also includes questions on a constituent assembly - a move that opposition groups fear could allow Noboa to consolidate power. Critics of the president argue that a constitutional rewrite will not solve problems like insecurity, poor access to health and education services, or the root causes of the violence.
Ecuador's instability has been linked to its role in the global cocaine supply chain, with international trafficking organizations exploiting porous borders and weak institutions to expand their influence. The country's proximity to coca-producing Peru and Colombia, combined with its Pacific ports, make it a critical hub for illicit trade.
As voting comes to an end, many are left wondering whether this referendum represents a turning point in the country's struggle against drug violence - or simply another attempt by President Noboa to shore up his security agenda.
In a vote that has been dubbed a referendum on "security and order," nearly 14 million Ecuadorians cast their ballots Sunday, weighing in on whether to lift a constitutional ban on foreign military bases - a move strongly backed by President Daniel Noboa. The proposal aims to help the country tackle spiraling violence fueled by cocaine trafficking.
According to polls, more than 61 percent of voters support allowing foreign troops to return, specifically from the United States, which last operated at Manta airbase between 1999 and 2009 as part of anti-narcotics efforts. This comes as Ecuador faces a homicide rate projected to hit 50 per 100,000 people this year - the highest in Latin America.
President Noboa, a right-wing leader who took office in November 2023, has pushed for increased security measures in response to rising violence. He has deployed soldiers to the streets and prisons, launched raids on gang strongholds, declared states of emergency, and tightened security at key infrastructure hubs.
The situation has been marked by unprecedented bloodshed, with over 4,600 murders reported so far this year - a record high according to Ecuador's Organized Crime Observatory. The recent capture in Spain of Wilmer Geovanny Chavarria Barre, also known as "Pipo," leader of the notorious Los Lobos gang, has been cited by Noboa as a major blow to organized crime.
Critics, however, question whether military force alone can address the crisis. Former President Rafael Correa has described the return of foreign forces as an "insult to our public forces and an assault to our sovereignty," arguing that the country needs "government" over "soldiers."
The referendum also includes questions on a constituent assembly - a move that opposition groups fear could allow Noboa to consolidate power. Critics of the president argue that a constitutional rewrite will not solve problems like insecurity, poor access to health and education services, or the root causes of the violence.
Ecuador's instability has been linked to its role in the global cocaine supply chain, with international trafficking organizations exploiting porous borders and weak institutions to expand their influence. The country's proximity to coca-producing Peru and Colombia, combined with its Pacific ports, make it a critical hub for illicit trade.
As voting comes to an end, many are left wondering whether this referendum represents a turning point in the country's struggle against drug violence - or simply another attempt by President Noboa to shore up his security agenda.
this is so heartbreaking what's happening in ecuador it's like they're losing their grip on hope. all this violence and bloodshed just for the sake of cocaine trafficking 
is it really worth sacrificing their sovereignty? 
president noboa's solution seems like a Band-Aid approach to a much deeper issue, don't you think? 
i mean, what about addressing the root causes of poverty, inequality, and lack of access to education and healthcare? 
these are the things that would really make a difference in this country. 
but i guess we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out... 
it feels like we're just putting a bandaid on the problem instead of addressing the root causes. I mean, has anyone even thought about how this would affect local communities and small businesses? The US has a pretty big history with Latin America, but does that necessarily mean their help is welcome? 
Ecuador's got so much talent and potential, why not invest in education and healthcare instead of relying on guns and boots?
We deserve better than just a quick fix to make our lives easier. The fact that Rafael Correa is speaking out against this plan shows that even former leaders know there's more to security than just military intervention.
just saw the results and i'm lowkey worried about ecuador's future 
and i don't think it'll solve anything 
plus, we're talking about a country that's been dealing with this coke trafficking mess for ages 
. It's Ecuador's own sovereignty we should be worrying about here 
. And what's with this whole referendum thing? It feels like Noboa is trying to distract us from the real issues at hand 
. What's gonna happen to all these people who are getting murdered every day? The fact that it's a "security and order" vote just feels so... convenient 
.
Ecuador is literally on the edge and it's all cuz of that cocaine trafficking 
They're bringin in US troops n all but is it really gonna make a diff? I mean some ppl r think it's just another way 4 Noboa 2 keep power n not solve the root causes of the violence 
. Can’t they try to address the root causes of the violence instead, like poverty and lack of access to education and healthcare? Maybe that would be a better way to tackle it.
We need to address the systemic issues that lead to this violence, not just throw more guns at the problem.
It sounds like a recipe for disaster 
What about addressing the root causes of violence instead of just throwing more guns at it? 
. The opposition has some valid points too - we can't just rely on military force to solve everything. We need to tackle the root causes of this violence, like poverty and lack of access to services 
.
. The fact that critics are questioning whether this referendum even addresses the real issues... yeah, I'm not convinced 
. Ecuador needs a more holistic approach to security, and that includes investing in education, healthcare, and social programs 
.
the numbers are just heartbreaking - 50 murders per 100,000 people is just insane 
and the fact that some people think allowing foreign troops back will solve everything is just so...i don't know...frustrating 
president noboa needs to listen to the critics and work on addressing the root causes of the violence instead of just throwing more band-aids at it 
. A 61% yes vote just means more foreign troops in our backyard, like they're gonna magically solve everything 
. It's a power grab plain and simple. I mean, what's the real motivation behind this? Noboa wants to consolidate his own power, no doubt about it 
. This is just another ploy to distract from the real issues – poverty, corruption... all that jazz 
. And don't even get me started on the "solution" being military force 
. Mark my words...
. I mean, we all know that violence is out of control in Ecuador right now 
. So, will this referendum really be a turning point in Ecuador's fight against drug violence? Or will it just be another distraction from the real issues at hand 
which won't solve the root problems of poverty, lack of access to healthcare, and education... those are the real battles they need to fight 
like, how does ecuador's role in the global supply chain affect their own crime rates? 