On January 12, 2024, CLAS hosted the second LAC Moments of the academic year featuring Dr. Luis Jácome, Dr. Erin McFee, and Ms. Tamara Taraciuk in a discussion concerning the current situation in Ecuador. The country is facing a major security crisis due to the high rates of violence carried out by criminal groups linked to drug trafficking, which has been increasing over much of the last decade. Recent events reveal the depth of the challenge: on August 9, 2023, presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was killed, and at the beginning of January 2024 massive violence broke out in prisons, generating terror in society. Newly elected president Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency and classified the crisis as an “internal armed conflict.” Panelists considered the causes of the crisis, what is next for Ecuador, and the importance of regional cooperation in addressing drug and gang-related issues in Latin America and the Caribbean. CLAS thanks the panelists, and all who attended and contributed to an engaging discussion in our first event of the semester.
