"Rising Gang Violence: Ecuador's Battle Against Cartels and Prisons"

Ecuador is grappling with a surge in gang violence, with 7,872 murders recorded in 2021, marking a significant increase from the previous year. Factors contributing to the crisis include the global cocaine trade, Colombia's historic peace deal leading to power vacuums, corrupt institutions allowing gangs to operate with impunity, weakened justice system, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and unemployment. President Daniel Noboa has declared an "internal armed conflict" and a state of emergency, targeting gangs as "terrorist" organizations, but experts warn that heavy-handed tactics may not address the root causes of the problem.