Ecuador’s President Noboa Escapes Alleged Assassination Attempt by Protesters
TL/DR –
President Daniel Noboa of Ecuador was reportedly attacked by a group of protesters as he arrived for an event in the province of Canar. The Environment and Energy Minister, Ines Manzano, alleges that the protestors surrounded the president’s vehicle, threw rocks, and damaged the car, which showed signs of bullet damage. The government claims the attack was an assassination attempt and has arrested five people, while the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) refutes the claims, arguing that the government violence was orchestrated against the gathered protestors.
Ecuador’s official reports attempt on President Noboa’s life by protesters
An Ecuadorian government official has alleged that an attack targeted President Daniel Noboa when a group of around 500 protesters surrounded his vehicle, throwing rocks. The alleged assault occurred in the south-central province of Canar during an event concerning water treatment and sewage.
Environment and Energy Minister Ines Manzano stated that the President’s car showed bullet damage signs and filed a report alleging an assassination attempt. She described the rock-throwing and damaging of state property as criminal and vowed not to allow such acts.
Following the Tuesday attack, the president’s office issued a statement, pledging justice against the perpetrators. The statement also condemned the attack on a presidential motorcade carrying civilians, declaring all arrested to face prosecution for terrorism and attempted murder. Manzano reported that five people had been detained.
Online footage released by the president’s office showed the motorcade navigating a roadway lined with protesters, some hurling rocks at the vehicles. Images also displayed a silver SUV with shattered windows, though it remained unclear whether a bullet caused the damage.
Political climate under Noboa’s leadership
President Noboa, Ecuador’s youngest-ever president, assumed his first full term office in May. Before this, he served a single term in the National Assembly and then served the remainder of Guillermo Lasso’s term following the dissolution of his government.
While Noboa has prioritized combating crime during his presidency, Ecuador has experienced a spike in homicide rates. Protests have also increased since his tenure began, with recent outrage over his decision to end a fuel subsidy believed to help lower-income families.
The government insists that subsidy removal reduces costs, asserting in a September 12 statement that subsidies were being misused for smuggling and illegal mining. It suggested that the saved $1.1bn could be used directly to compensate small farmers and transportation workers.
This decision led to the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) launching a strike and encouraging protests and road blockades. Despite Tuesday’s incident, CONAIE argued there was no organized attack on Noboa, but instead that the government was violent towards protesters.
This is not the president’s first assassination claim. After April’s run-off vote, the administration issued a “maximum alert” suggesting assassins from Mexico were plotting to destabilize the administration.
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