A humanitarian convoy led by Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa came under violent attack on Sunday night, leaving 17 soldiers kidnapped and dozens injured, according to government officials.
Spokeswoman Carolina Jaramillo said the convoy, which was delivering aid during a national strike, was ambushed in Cotacachi, Imbabura province, by around 350 people armed with Molotov cocktails. The group also included diplomats from the UN, the European Union, Italy and the Vatican.
President Noboa posted photographs of shattered windscreens on social media after the assault, blaming what he described as “armed protesters who resist Ecuador’s progress and chose violence.” He added that “Ecuador cannot go backward.
The attack comes amid a nationwide strike spearheaded by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie), the country’s most influential indigenous rights organisation. The group is protesting sharp increases in fuel prices following the government’s decision to reduce subsidies. Conaie said one of its members was shot dead during demonstrations, accusing security forces of excessive force.
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International diplomats confirmed the severity of the incident. Italy’s ambassador Giovanni Davoli said he was unharmed but condemned what he called a “terrorist act directed against Ecuador’s head of state.” Vatican and UN representatives were also present, though no injuries to foreign envoys were reported.
The Ecuadorian armed forces released images of bloodied soldiers and accused the attackers of being “terrorist groups.” They confirmed that 12 soldiers were wounded and 17 others taken hostage. The military vowed that “acts like these will not go unpunished.”
Jan Jarab, the UN’s regional human rights chief, called for an “urgent dialogue” to address the spiralling violence and demanded a probe into the death and injuries reported.
Jaramillo said those responsible for the ambush “do not represent Ecuadorians but criminals.” She confirmed that negotiations to secure the release of the abducted troops were ongoing.
The crisis highlights Ecuador’s fragile security environment, where protests over economic reforms have repeatedly escalated into deadly confrontations. In the past decade, clashes linked to subsidy disputes and indigenous-led demonstrations have brought large parts of the country to a standstill.
