El Ciudadano
Original article: Ecuador bajo fuego: un homicidio cada 62 minutos y violencia criminal golpea a dos tercios del país
The security crisis in Ecuador under the leadership of Daniel Nobo has reached unprecedented levels, with an average of one murder nearly every hour, while criminal violence spreads across two-thirds of the nation’s territory.
According to official figures, at least 2,778 murders were recorded in the Latin American nation during the first quarter of 2026, which equates to an average of 23 homicides daily or one person killed every 62 minutes.
The official statistics highlight an alarming rise in homicides in 2026 compared to previous periods. In relation to 2024, which saw 1,957 murders, the current year accounts for 821 additional deaths; compared to 2023, with 2,343 cases, the figure increased by 435; while the disparity is even more pronounced when referencing 2022, which reported 1,358 crimes and for 2026, an additional 1,420 murders occurred.
As noted by TeleSUR, the statistics for the first four months of the year expose the severity of the security situation compared to data from the past decade, where 2021 had 697 murders, 2020 accounted for 397, and 2019 recorded 371. In contrast, the murders in 2026 represent an increase of almost seven times compared to six years ago, underscoring a troubling deterioration. This annual figure translates to 695 homicides per month.
The figures also reveal that the country ended 2025 with over 9,000 murders, the highest rate in its recent history.
The Murder of Activist Monika Silva: A Symbol of Ecuador’s Security Crisis
The murder of activist Monika Silva, known for her corruption denunciations in the Santa Elena area, has become one of the most alarming symbols of this violence crisis.
The social advocate had pointed out alleged irregularities in the sale of over 700 hectares in the prime area of Capaes, lands that were reportedly sold without auction in 2022 by then-mayor Otto Vera Palacios for a value of 6.2 million dollars.
The report from the forensic examination established that Silva did not die by suicide, but was a victim of a homicide, contradicting the initial statements by Interior Minister John Reimberg, who had claimed the activist took her own life. Among the most significant findings of the autopsy was the presence of a ligature mark on the neck and a hyoid bone fracture, injuries that demonstrate the violence of the attack and dismantle the initial official narrative.
In light of this scenario, the United Nations has urged the Ecuadorian state to take urgent actions to guarantee the safety of human rights defenders, who are targeted by a systematic persecution that undermines the most fundamental principles of democracy.
The UN Special Rapporteur, Andrea Bolaños Vargas, expressed her concerns regarding the discovery of Silva’s lifeless body on June 8 in Montañita, Santa Elena province, characterizing this incident as the tip of the iceberg of a state hostility that endangers those who raise their voices against injustice. The rapporteur urged the Ecuadorian government to take immediate actions, including ensuring the right of individuals to promote, defend, and protect human rights, and to promptly cease the persecution, criminalization, and surveillance of defenders.
In a message shared through her social media, Bolaños was emphatic in demanding that the state provide effective protection against threats, violence, and intimidation, and reinforce the institutional mechanisms of the Ombudsman to support activists.
The UN expert also called for prosecution of those responsible for violations against defenders, ensuring there is no impunity, and for a swift, thorough, independent, and transparent investigation into the murder of Monika Silva, TeleSUR reported.
She insisted on the need for justice in this case, stating that “defenders are allies of democracy and human dignity.”
La entrada Ecuador Under Siege: Murder Every 62 Minutes as Criminal Violence Affects Two-Thirds of the Nation se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.
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