Ecuador 'at war' as gangs hold prison staff hostage

7:22 am on 11 January 2024

(FILES) Ecuadorean presidential candidate Daniel Noboa, of the National Democratic Action Party, delivers a speech during a campaign rally in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on October 9, 2023. Ecuador's new President Daniel Noboa announced on January 4, 2024, the construction of two new maximum security prisons in the country, where violence linked to drug trafficking and gang wars has exploded in recent years. He said the buildings would be exactly the same as a prison built by El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, who has led a controversial crackdown on gangs in his Central American country. (Photo by Gerardo MENOSCAL / AFP)

Daniel Noboa delivers a speech during a campaign rally in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on 9 October 9, 2023. Photo: GERARDO MENOSCAL /. AFP

More than 130 prison guards and other staff are being held hostage by inmates in at least five prisons around Ecuador, which is reeling from an escalation of violence in recent days that its president has called a war.

President Daniel Noboa, who has promised to tackle a growing security problem caused by a rise in drug-trafficking gangs transporting cocaine through Ecuador, on Tuesday named 22 gangs as terrorist organisations, making them official military targets.

"We are at war and we cannot cede in the face of these terrorist groups," Noboa told radio station Canela Radio.

The hostage-takings, which began in the early hours of Monday, and the apparent escape of Los Choneros gang leader Adolfo Macias from prison over the weekend, spurred Noboa to declare a 60-day state of emergency.

He hardened the decree on Tuesday after a series of explosions around the country and a dramatic takeover of a TV station by gunmen live on air.

The government has said the violence is a reaction to Noboa's plan to build a new high security prison for gang leaders.

Noboa said the country will begin to deport foreign prisoners, especially Colombians, this week to reduce prison populations and spending.

There are some 1500 Colombians in prison in Ecuador, Noboa told the radio station, adding that prisoners from Colombia, Peru and Venezuela account for 90 percent of jailed foreigners.

Ecuadorean soldiers patrol outside the premises of Ecuador's TC television channel after unidentified gunmen burst into the state-owned television studio live on air on January 9, 2024, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, a day after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency following the escape from prison of a dangerous narco boss. Gunshots rang out on live TV in violence-torn Ecuador as armed men carrying rifles and grenades stormed the studio shortly after gangsters vowed a "war" against the president's plans to reclaim control from "narcoterrorists". (Photo by MARCOS PIN / AFP)

Armed gangs have been engaged in a bitter fight with the government which has imprisoned thousands of gang suspects. Photo: MARCOS PIN

Colombia has, like many Latin American countries, expressed its support for Ecuador's government, and said on Wednesday it would increase military presence and controls along their nearly 600km shared border.

Colombia's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Noboa's deportation plan.

Noboa also doubled down on his plans to separate gang leaders from wider prison populations, increase security at ports, and fight corruption, among other measures.

- This story was first published by Reuters