(CNN Spanish) –– The president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, decreed this Thursday for the fourth time a state of exception focused on the country in order to “reinforce security actions” arguing again “serious internal commotion and internal armed conflict.”
The state of emergency decree will last 60 days and will be applied in six provinces: Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, Orellana, Santa Elena, El Oro; in addition to the Ponce Enríquez canton in Azuay and the Metropolitan District of Quito in the province of Pichincha.
Through a statement, the Government justified the issuance of a new state of emergency decree.
“The presidential decision is made to strengthen the work of the Armed Forces and the Police in order to defend the sovereignty and integrity of the State, citizen security and public order,” the Presidency stated.
Additionally, the decree establishes a curfew or restriction on freedom of movement from 10 pm to 5 am, local time, in the cantons of Camilo Ponce Enríquez (Azuay); Durán, Balao and Tenguel parish (Guayas); Babahoyo, Buena Fe, Quevedo, Pueblo Viejo, Vinces, Valencia, Ventanas, Mocache, Urdaneta, Baba, Palenque, Quinsaloma, Montalvo (Los Ríos); Jewel of the Sachas, Puerto Francisco de Orellana and Loreto (Orellana).
In January Noboa decreed a state of internal armed conflict in Ecuador due to the worsening of the situation of insecurity and violence caused by organized crime groups.
