Ecuador President Daniel Noboa Declares New State of Exception in 10 Provinces

On 16 June 2026 President Daniel Noboa signed Executive Decree 423, establishing a 60‑day state of exception – extendable by another 30 days – in ten provinces (Guayas, Manabí, Santa Elena, Los Ríos, El Oro, Pichincha, Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Sucumbíos and Azuay) and three cantons (La Maná, Las Naves and La Troncal). The decree suspends constitutional guarantees of inviolability of domicile and correspondence, permitting police and armed forces to conduct warrant‑less searches, intercept communications and requisition goods deemed necessary for security operations. No general curfew or mobility restrictions are imposed, but targeted controls and checkpoints are expected. The measure responds to a sharp rise in violent crime – officials cite nearly 900 killings in the affected areas in the first months of the year and increasing armed‑group activity along cocaine‑trafficking routes – and follows the expiry of a previous state of exception on 1 June. Authorities argue the extraordinary powers are needed to curb organized crime, drug trafficking and armed groups, especially in coastal and Amazonian zones, while critics warn of civil‑rights implications.