Ecuador's Security Crisis: Car Bombings and Prison Hostage-Taking

Ecuador experienced a series of car bombings in Quito and a province bordering Peru, as well as the hostage-taking of over 50 law enforcement officers in various prisons. These incidents come after the recent assassination of a presidential candidate. The explosions and hostage-taking are believed to be the response of criminal groups to measures taken by the country's corrections system, which has struggled to control large prisons. The violence is linked to power struggles between gangs involved in drug trafficking and territorial control. Ecuador has seen a significant increase in violence in recent years, with a record number of violent deaths reported in 2022.