In Ecuador, the declaration of a state of ''internal armed conflict'' will create near-term political unity, which will give the government the tools it needs to secure crime hot spots. But major constraints on curbing rising levels of violent crime will likely lead to a protracted security crisis and, over time, may erode legislative support for Noboa's economic reform agenda. On Jan. 9, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, who only took office in November 2023, issued an executive decree that ''recogniz[ed] the existence of an internal armed conflict'' in Ecuador in response to escalating gang violence across the country. His declaration came after a series of violent incidents earlier in the day, including one in which a dozen gunmen stormed a state-owned TV station during a live broadcast, taking multiple hostages. Gangs also kidnapped multiple police officers and declared ''war'' on the country. The violence left at least 10 Ecuadorians dead....
