Linkedin-in Youtube Facebook-f

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

April 5, 2024

Is Ecuador Winning its Fight Against Violent Gangs?

Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa’s government has said homicides have fallen sharply since it began an aggressive crackdown on gangs in January. // File Photo: @DanielNoboaOk via X.

Q

  • Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa is almost three months into an aggressive security crackdown on gangs that began as a response to brazen and widespread gang attacks across Ecuador in early January. In the weeks since, authorities have made more than 10,000 arrests, and the government has said homicides have fallen sharply. Ecuadoreans will go to the polls on April 21 to vote in a referendum on Noboa’s new set of security proposals. How much do the security gains of the last months result from Noboa’s policies, and how sustainable are they in the long-term? What are the most important elements of Noboa’s proposed reforms, and how likely are voters to support them? Are Noboa’s policies on track to continue improving security and maintain his popularity ahead of next year’s elections, or are there potential stumbling blocks ahead for Ecuador and Noboa’s platform?

A

Will Freeman, fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations: “Noboa deserves some credit. After gangs attacked a television station in early January, many (myself, included) expected Ecuador’s security situation to only get worse. Given corruption in the police, Noboa reached for the only tool available to him—the military—and, surprisingly, achieved short-term results. Arrests and military intervention in prisons seem to have pressured gangs into reducing homicides (although not necessarily other types of crime). The strategy isn’t free of civil liberties concerns, but Noboa is no Bukele. Ecuador’s independent Constitutional Court ratified his state of exception. He is seeking to…”

Top News

Guyana Blasts Maduro Over Essequibo Law
Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for signing into law the results of a referendum last December in which Venezuelan voters approved Caracas’ claim to Guyana’s Essequibo region.
Colombia Seeking More Competition in Financial Market
Colombia is reportedly seeking to increase competition in the country’s financial market, which is known for high fees.
Peru’s Congress Rejects Efforts to Impeach Boluarte
Peru’s Congress on Thursday rejected impeachment efforts against President Dina Boluarte. She is under investigation on allegations of illicit enrichment. // File Photo:
@presidenciaperu via X.

Complete editions of the Latin America Advisor are delivered on a biweekly basis to members of the Dialogue’s Corporate Program and other subscribers. Sign up below for a free complimentary preview subscription.

Subscribe

ABOUT THE LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

The Inter-American Dialogue publishes the Latin America Advisor every business day for a distinguished membership of informed corporate leaders, scholars, and government officials invested in Latin America’s development and future. The Advisor‘s highly regarded Q&A section covers questions submitted by subscribers themselves. Commentators regularly include heads of state, business leaders, diplomats, economists, analysts, and thought leaders from around the world. Many of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies subscribe to the Advisor. To subscribe, click here. For terms and conditions, click here. For more information, contact Gene Kuleta, editor of the Advisor, at gkuleta@thedialogue.org.
Energy Advisor
Financial Services Advisor

Subscribers

the-dialogue-subscribers7
the-dialogue-subscribers6
the-dialogue-subscribers5
the-dialogue-subscribers4
the-dialogue-subscribers3
the-dialogue-subscribers2
the-dialogue-subscribers1

Staff

Gene Kuleta
Editor
P. 202.463.2920
E. gkuleta@thedialogue.org

Carl David
Goette-Luciak
Reporter

Nili Blanck
Reporter

Subscribe

board of advisors

Diego Arria
Director,
Columbus Group

Merike Blofield
Professor of Political Science,
University of Hamburg

Devry Boughner Vorwerk
CEO,
DevryBV Sustainable Strategies

Joyce Chang
Global Head of Research,
J.P. Morgan

Marlene Fernández
Corporate Vice President for Gov’t Relations,
Arcos Dorados (McDonald’s)

Peter Hakim
President Emeritus,
Inter-American Dialogue

Donna Hrinak
Director,
Adtalem Global Education

Jon E. Huenemann
Council Member,
GLG Inc.

James R. Jones
Chairman,
Monarch Global Strategies

Craig Kelly
Senior Director,
Int’l Gov’t Relations,
Exxon Mobil

Barbara Kotschwar
Professor of Political Economy,
Georgetown University

John Maisto
Director,
US Education Finance Group

Nicolas Mariscal
Chairman,
Grupo Marhnos

Thomas F. McLarty III
Chairman,
McLarty Associates

Beatrice Rangel
Director,
AMLA Consulting

Ernesto Revilla
Head of Latin American Economics, Citi

Gustavo Roosen
President,
IESA

Andrés Rozental
President, Rozental &
Asociados

Shelly Shetty
Managing Director,
Sovereigns, Fitch

The Dialogue is a hemispheric organization that builds networks of cooperation and action to advance democratic resilience, shared prosperity, social inclusion, and sustainable development across the Americas. We impact policy debates, devise solutions, and enhance collaboration to unlock meaningful change in the Western Hemisphere.

Quick Links

Donate

Inter-American Dialogue
1155 15th Street NW | Suite 800
Washington, DC 20005
P: +1-202-822-9002
F: +1-202-822-9553

Preview Latin America Advisor
Linkedin-in Youtube Facebook-f

© 2024 Inter-American Dialogue

Subscribe To
Latin America Advisors

* indicates required field

The Inter-American Dialogue Education Program

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER / SUSCRÍBASE A NUESTRO BOLETÍN:

* indicates required

Part-Time: Reporter, Latin America Advisor