John Reimberg Backs 10 Day Coastal Curfew in Ecuador
Authorities arrested more than 120 people in the first night of the 10-day restriction, which targets areas with high homicide rates.
By Takeshi Davidson ·
Residents in five coastal provinces of Ecuador faced a new restriction on Sunday morning after a curfew took effect at midnight. The decree limits movement until 5:00 a.m. for the next 10 days in Guayas, El Oro, Los Ríos, Esmeraldas, and Manabí. Interior Minister John Reimberg stated on Friday that the government would implement important security measures, though he did not provide specific details at that time.
Police reported that 121 people were arrested for violating the order during the first day. In Guayas, authorities detained 68 individuals, while 53 were arrested in Esmeraldas. The Interior Ministry said on its X account that special operations were deployed to ensure compliance with the new rules.
The executive decree cites a police report indicating that more than 90% of homicides in these specific regions are linked to criminal violence. The document also notes the persistence of extortive kidnappings, extortion, and the availability of weapons. Ecuador closed 2025 as its most violent year on record with 9,216 murders, a rate of 50 per 100,000 inhabitants. This figure follows five years of rising insecurity driven by criminal gangs connected to transnational drug trafficking.
Official data shows that homicides dropped by 8% between January and September, representing about 500 fewer cases than in the same period last year. However, Diego Pérez, a security expert and professor at the National Institute for Higher Studies, argued that the underlying dynamics of violence remain unchanged.
Perez told The Associated Press that the curfew appears designed to make the government's actions visible rather than addressing the structural center of violence. He described the measure as media-oriented and noted that it does not affect the core of criminal organizations. These groups, he said, are flexible and can easily move personnel to other provinces if pressure is applied in Guayas.
This is the fourth time President Daniel Noboa’s administration has applied a curfew, having previously used it in March, May, and September. While the government has highlighted the results of those prior measures, national and international human rights organizations have questioned the strategy. Perez warned of the risks associated with the intensive use of the armed forces, which he believes could weaken institutional structures.
A final balance on arrests and incidents is expected at the end of the current day. The restriction will continue until the end of the 10-day period unless the government issues a further decree.
