The Ibero-American Summit takes place in Ecuador amidst a complex socio-economic situation.

 By María Josefina Arce

The 29th Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, which ended in Ecuador, took place in a complex situation in the Andean country, marked by popular protests against the government of President Daniel Noboa, new acts of violence in the Penitenciaría del Litoral (Prison System of Litoral)and a high level of insecurity that is not diminishing.

Trade union and social organizations, as well as the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, took to the streets to denounce the high level of insecurity that continues at the national level. In fact, according to official data, there have been nearly 6,000 homicides this year.

In recent hours, there have also been new incidents in the well-known Penitenciaría del Litoral(Penitenciaría del Litoral), where a riot has left 15 dead and 14 wounded.

The massacre in this prison is not an isolated incident. Since 2021, there have been a dozen violent incidents in the center that have claimed the lives of more than 300 people.

The control of the prisons by the military forces since the beginning of the year has not put an end to the violence, on the contrary, as denounced by various sectors of society, has aggravated the abuses and violations of human rights.

Another concern of the protesters is the prevailing high unemployment, aggravated by the 12-hour blackouts that have been affecting the population for more than a month.

The Ecuadorian Business Committee pointed out that the energy crisis, in addition to increasing the number of unemployed, has caused losses of more than four billion dollars.

President Daniel Noboa is seeking re-election in general elections next February, but there are many questions about his administration. So far, the violence has been uncontrollable and has spread throughout the country, reaching cities such as Quito, the capital.

The permanent states of emergency declared by Noboa have not produced the results expected by society, while other measures to address the root of the problem have not been adopted.

Noboa has a difficult road to re-election. Ecuadorians expect answers and a strategy from the government he heads, while in the country the violence continues, the economic indexes deteriorate and poverty increases, already at 30%.