Massacres Surge as Gangs Fragment in Ecuador

InSight Crime writes that Ecuador is experiencing a sharp rise in massacres. Massacres are incidents where three or more people are killed at the same time and place. These massacres have expanded beyond prisons to civilian areas, fueled by the proliferation of high-powered weapons, judicial impunity, and the fragmentation of criminal gangs.

Key points fromt the article are:

1. Rising Violence

   • Massacres have increased significantly since 2020, with 2024’s numbers approaching 2023 levels.

   • Recent incidents include mass killings in the province of El Oro and the city of  Durán.

2. Contributing Factors

   • Weapons Access: Criminal groups now have greater access to automatic weapons due to lax regulations and illegal trafficking.

   • Impunity: Over 90% of homicides go unsolved, emboldening perpetrators. Judicial corruption further undermines accountability.

   • Gang Fragmentation: Crackdowns by the government on leadership  have splintered gangs, intensifying rivalries and spreading violence across the country.

3. Gold Mining Regions Under Siege

   • Massacres are increasingly reported in mining areas as gangs fight for control of lucrative operations.

   • Regions like the coastal part of the province of Azuay and the province Sucumbíos have seen sharp increases in mass killings in 2024.

4. Massacres as Tools of Control

   • Criminal groups use massacres to enforce territorial dominance and punish civilians who defy their rules.

Note that many massacres have innocent people as victims. Therefore, based on the information provided in this article, we recommend expats and travelers to avoid the provinces of El Oro and Sucumbíos, the town of Ponce Enríquez in the coastal part of the province of Azuay and the city of Durán. When traveling between Cuenca and Guayaquil you will ride on the main road through Durán. It's best to stay on this road and to not enter the industrial or residential areas located along this road.