Electoral Contentious Court judge Ivonne Coloma is presiding over a case brought by CPCCS member Juan Guarderas.

Political organizations in Ecuador registered a total of 496 lists for assembly members in the upcoming elections. However, only five—Revolución Ciudadana, ADN, Amigo, Creo, and SUMA—managed to field candidates in all 24 provinces.

So here I am, staying in an Airbnb in Greece, where my host, Spiros, has been a fascinating guide into the local culture—and more importantly, its politics. One evening, Spiros and I went out for drinks, and the conversation quickly veered into comparing the political landscapes of the U.S. and Greece. Without skipping a beat, […]

In a recent executive decree, the government admits that crime and violence remain high in Ecuador. Minister Arturo Félix Wong also highlights that “historically, October is the most violent month.”

A severe corn shortage is pushing small poultry farms in Tungurahua to the brink, as the price of a bucket of eggs continues to climb.

Between 2010 and 2023, the Secretariat of Risk Management recorded 66,046 hazardous events across Ecuador, with Pichincha and Guayas being the hardest-hit provinces.

President Daniel Noboa has announced new legislation aimed at increasing private sector involvement in energy production to address the country’s ongoing power shortages. Additionally, he commented on his decision to cancel the sale of the presidential aircraft, Legacy EMB-135 BJ.

During Rafael Correa’s government, plans for these two hydroelectric plants were drawn up, but they have not been implemented. Now, under the Noboa administration, there are plans for them to start operating between 2030 and 2032.

The Ministry of Agriculture has announced that corn imports will begin in December 2024, following the conclusion of Ecuador’s harvest. Companies wishing to access import quotas must comply with the minimum support price when absorbing the national production.

A World Bank report indicates that Ecuador will experience the most significant impacts of the climate crisis in transportation, disruptions to economic activity, and agricultural losses.

I’m on vacation this week, so I’m sharing a column I wrote seven—yes seven—years ago. Although Bonita is no longer with us, the story and its significance continue to resonate through the years. -Michael

President Daniel Noboa has proposed reforms to Articles 110 and 115 of the Ecuadorian Constitution, which would end state financing for political parties and movements. The proposal will first be reviewed by the Constitutional Court and, if deemed viable, will then move to the National Assembly for debate.

Industry experts warn that the price of pork per pound for producers will increase from $4.20 to $4.50. While the sector has absorbed higher costs, the situation has now become “unsustainable.”

Opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia alleges he was coerced by Chavistas before seeking asylum in Spain.

The government’s recent announcement to cover electricity bills for December, January, and February aligns conveniently with the upcoming electoral campaign and presidential elections.

One thing most expats will admit is that they still follow U.S. politics. Some do it quietly, trying to let go but just can’t. Then there’s the group like me: we follow it obsessively, convinced that our deep dive into political analysis makes us somehow more enlightened—and that maybe, just maybe, we can fix the […]

At 47, Shri finds great joy in sharing knowledge with children, whom she sees as her own. She firmly believes that teaching with love yields positive results.

Ecuador may soon complete a second debt-for-conservation swap, a move investors have been anticipating since April 2024.

President Daniel Noboa has vetoed the Fire Defense Law, citing “errors” in the proposal approved by the Assembly.

The Legislative Administration Council (CAL) consolidated two requests for impeachment proceedings, both originating from Correísta party members. However, no date has been set for the process to begin.

This week, The Cuenca Dispatch isn’t really focused on one topic so much as it’s giving attention to some of the things that go on in an ever evolving a country. I don’t necessarily mean that politically—though politics clearly played a role in more than one of this week’s stories. What I mean is that […]

While the number of detainees has already surpassed the total for 2023, there was a decrease from May to July 2024.

Ecuador faces declining oil revenues, increasing reliance on tax income, and production challenges, with future oil revenue uncertain.

Petroecuador’s spill response deficiencies lead to widespread environmental and legal issues.

This week, I want to lay out my thoughts on the energy crisis and how it will worsen with the closure of the Yasuní-ITT oil fields. Let’s be clear: these are two separate issues—at least for now. Currently, most of our energy problems stem from the country’s reliance on electricity generated by hydroelectric plants. For […]

The Waorani people have submitted a document to the Constitutional Court outlining guidelines for the closure of the oil field. One of the immediate measures proposed is to shut down all the wells. A year after the announcement of the August 2023 popular consultation results, in which it was decided to leave the Yasuní crude […]

Drug violence is increasingly disrupting scientific research in Ecuador, forcing scientists to avoid certain regions due to safety concerns. Biologist César Garzón was in pursuit of a small, endangered parrot in Ecuador when a threat to his life forced him to abandon his mission. In one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, drug […]

In the last decade, Ecuador’s energy consumption grew dramatically, with transportation and fossil fuels—gasoline and diesel fuel—dominating demand.  From 2013 to 2023, Ecuador’s energy demand surged by 18.3%, increasing from 86.2 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) to 102 million BOE. This rise encompasses the consumption of hydrocarbons, electricity, firewood, sugarcane production, and non-energy products. […]

The process was launched by mandate of a popular consultation. In 2024, the plan is to close 10 wells, with 48 wells to be shut down annually from 2025 to 2028, and the remaining 44 wells scheduled for closure in 2029. Operations in Block 43-ITT (Ishpingo, Tambococha, Tiputini) began in 2016 after the failure of […]

A judge’s order to reopen three closed impeachment proceedings could intensify the ongoing dispute with the government. Several legislators are expected to seek re-election. The National Assembly is back in session after its legislative recess, focusing on disputes, impeachments, occasional bills, and the upcoming 2025 general elections. The recess was not free of controversy and […]

The Turkish company Karpowership faces fines for missing deadlines Problems with the anchoring of the Powership Emre Bey barge at Las Esclusas, south of Guayaquil, could result in Karpowership facing up to three types of fines, including one per thousand (1×1,000) of its commitments per day of delay, and even a percentage of the power […]

Ecuador is facing one of the most challenging environmental and logistical tasks in its history: the complete shutdown of the ITT oil field, the country’s largest oil production site. This monumental endeavor of shutting down the ITT oil field involves not only taking down 247 operating wells but also dismantling approximately 6,000 assets, including an […]

Chronic childhood malnutrition in Ecuador reveals deep socioeconomic and ethnic disparities. One in five children under two years old in Ecuador suffers from chronic childhood malnutrition, revealing deep equity gaps driven by factors such as ethnicity, place of residence, and the socioeconomic status of the mother, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Sonia […]

This week, I’m stepping away from the usual topics and focusing on something different—two stories in TCD that caught my attention: “American Teen Promotes Camp for Low-Income Children in Ecuador” and “Chronic Childhood Malnutrition Highlights Equity Gaps in Ecuador, According to PAHO.” I’m setting aside all the usual policing, politics, and power plays because, frankly, […]

IDB finances Ecuador’s new police model to combat organized crime. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) plans to finance a new police model tailored to regions most affected by crime, including a criminal intelligence system. Additionally, social service centers will be established to prevent the recruitment of minors into criminal activities. Nathalie Alvarado, coordinator of the […]

The ongoing political tension within Ecuador’s highest offices took a significant turn as the Electoral Disputes Tribunal (TCE) admitted a complaint of alleged political gender violence filed by Vice President Verónica Abad Rojas against President Daniel Noboa Azín. This case also implicates several other members of Noboa’s administration, including Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld, Vice Minister […]

Panama begins deporting Ecuadorian migrants after U.S.-backed repatriation agreement. Panama is intensifying its efforts to deport migrants who have crossed the treacherous Darien jungle, with Ecuadorians set to be among those repatriated in the coming days. The initiative is part of a broader plan backed by the United States, aimed at managing the increasing number […]

Noboa orders modernization of force manuals to combat rising threats. In response to increasing threats from organized crime and emerging terrorist tactics, President Daniel Noboa has issued Executive Decree No. 371, mandating the immediate modernization of the operational manuals governing the legitimate use of force by the National Police and the Armed Forces. This move […]

Jan Topic, a businessman from Guayaquil, has been chosen as the presidential candidate for the SUMA movement, stepping in after Pedro Freile. He will partner with María Cristina Calderón Saá-Jaramillo as his vice-presidential running mate.

The government of Daniel Noboa has announced plans to hire one or two more barges to address the ongoing electricity crisis. These will be added to the existing barge leased from the Turkish company Karpowership.

Doesn’t it seem that no matter where we live, we are surrounded by the absurdities of politics? Consider this: all the political stories in this week’s issue could just as easily be about Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, or even the United States. One person accuses another of doing a terrible job. Another calls someone a criminal. […]

Ecuador has been forced to significantly increase its electricity imports from Colombia due to an early onset of drought. In 2023, the country paid a steep 21.6 cents per kilowatt-hour to Colombia—nearly four times the cost of its domestic energy.

The Pristimantis ruidus, (also known as the ‘Cutín de Molleturo’) a frog species endemic to Ecuador, has been rediscovered by scientists after eluding them for a century.

Vice President Verónica Abad’s allegations against President Daniel Noboa and several of his top officials—and advisor Diana Jácome—have taken a new turn as an Electoral Contentious Tribunal (TCE) judge has demanded that she clarify the legal grounds of her complaint. In a surprising retort, Jácome has filed a similar complaint of gender-based political violence against Abad.

Ecuadorians turned out in droves for the opening of the country’s first Starbucks in Quito, where a small American coffee costs $1.70 and a large Ultimate Caramel Frappuccino goes for $6.15. The anticipation was palpable. As early as 7:00 a.m. on August 15, 2024, eager customers began lining up outside Scala Shopping Mall in the […]

María José Pinto González-Artigas, a business leader and social advocate with extensive experience in the textile industry and public service, has been nominated as Daniel Noboa’s vice-presidential candidate for the 2025 Ecuadorian elections.

It’s that time of year when Ecuador’s political powers pick their candidates who will soon be talking a lot about the economy, country-risk, credit, foreign investment, and maybe a little on the side about the energy crisis. In the end, like in most democratic countries, people will elect their “leaders” based on the party they […]

Speothos venaticus, a rare wild canid, was recently sighted in the northern region of Sucumbíos, Ecuador.

Four old power generation barges, abandoned by Termoguayas, are docked where the Turkish-made power generation ship Emre Bey will soon be anchored. The Emre Bey is expected to contribute 100 MW of electricity to Ecuador’s interconnected system.

The week began with declines in international stock markets and Ecuador’s country risk reaching 1,460 points. By week’s end, the risk had dropped to 1,397 points.

In 2023, Latin America’s foreign direct investment fell by 10%, with Ecuador experiencing a dramatic 57% decline, driven by reduced inflows to major economies and a downturn in service sector investments.

Security problems are hampering Ecuador’s hopes of making a comeback as a tourist destination. Colombia and Peru have been able to overcome this issue. Colombia and Peru are two of the most popular tourist destinations in Latin America, while Mexico, Argentina, and the Caribbean remain popular. In contrast, Cuba is hampered by supply problems, Venezuela […]

Turkey’s Karpowership, which will charter a barge to Ecuador, has faced legal issues and taken a tough stance on collecting invoices in some countries where it has operated.

President Daniel Noboa, facing a fractured relationship with the National Assembly, is increasingly turning to the Constitutional Court in an effort to shift the political balance in his favor. As tensions with the legislature escalate, the President seeks judicial intervention to uphold his policies and counter legislative resistance. The relationship between the Government and the […]

Wow, hell of a week, huh? The stock market started crashing last week and went into freefall on Monday. Seems the job report from last week has the world fearing that the United States will go into a recession. Sure, that could happen, but what I suspect will really happen is that in September the […]

Local lenders have become a lifeline for the Noboa government, having lent it $4.095 billion. However, it still needs to raise $6.049 billion for the remainder of the year.

Energy Minister Antonio Goncalves reported on July 26, 2024, that July saw the lowest water levels in Ecuador’s reservoirs in 61 years. Speaking to Forever Radio, Goncalves highlighted the severity of the upcoming dry season, which he predicts will be drier than the years 1992, 1995, and 2023.

Embassies assist thousands of vulnerable migrants facing critical situations. In the first half of 2024, Ecuadorian embassies and consulates have addressed over 11,000 requests for assistance, most of which have come from Mexico and the United States. The ongoing migration crisis remains a significant issue in Ecuador, with thousands of families attempting to reach the […]

Sommerfeld contends that the trial is an unjust attack on her efforts to uphold Ecuador’s sovereignty and international obligations. The impeachment trial against Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld, driven by the Citizen Revolution (RC) movement, has stirred significant controversy, with allegations of political maneuvering overshadowing the proceedings. The trial, which commenced on July 26, 2024, […]

Obviously, the top story in TCD this week is the fraudulent election in Venezuela. I make that accusation with some confidence, because the evidence that President Nicolás Maduro stole the election comes from exit polls showing opposition candidate Edmundo González leading 66% to 30%. Of course, exit polls can be inaccurate—remember the Clinton-Trump election in […]

To obtain a reduced sentence, Emerson Curipallo, alias “El Gran Gitano,” admitted that he received $200,000 to free convicted criminals. “El Gran Gitano” is the pseudonym by which Emerson Curipallo was known. A former judge from Santo Domingo, he was part of a judicial corruption structure that facilitated the release of two of the trusted […]

Proposed bill threatens foreign investment by limiting arbitration and payments. A proposed bill in the National Assembly aims to impose stricter restrictions on international arbitration, which critics argue could deliver a “final blow to foreign investment” in Ecuador. The bill, known as the ‘Law for the Fulfillment of the Popular Will Expressed in the Popular […]

“I don’t know what I’m being tried for; I don’t know of any documentation,” said Vice President Verónica Abad. The Electoral Dispute Tribunal set a hearing for August 15th.

Energy Minister Antonio Goncalves explained why the Turkish barge had already set sail for the region without a signed contract.

Where to start this week? I’m taking a slight detour from what’s published in The Cuenca Dispatch (TCD) to discuss some other news from Ecuador, which is related to one of this week’s stories. You’ll read that the Correístas blocked the vote in the National Assembly to impeach Wilman Terán, former president of the Judicial […]

Fishermen from Salinas and other towns in Santa Elena describe how they succumb to pressure from drug traffickers, who pay up to $10,000 to transport drugs.

Between February and June 2024, during the internal armed conflict, violent deaths in Ecuador increased by 61%.

Abad faces legal charges for alleged early campaigning, with a crucial hearing scheduled for August 15th. Amid political tension and personal claims of endangerment, Abad stands firm against mounting pressures from President Noboa’s administration.

I had planned to reprint one of my old columns this week since I’m on vacation. But the major event of the week cannot be ignored, so here I go. I’m talking, of course, about the assassination attempt on Presidential candidate Donald Trump. Thankfully, Trump sustained only minor injuries and will be able to continue […]

The UN Office on Drugs proposes greater control of corruption in Ecuador’s ports, which are key to drug trafficking. The plan includes mechanisms to combat money laundering.

In the first quarter of 2024, the number of Venezuelans leaving Ecuador increased by 33% compared to last year.

The trial is in the preliminary phase, with the deadline for presenting evidence both for and against the case set for Friday.

Community members are ending half a millennium of waiting by building a highway that will link the Central Sierra with the Coast and the Amazon. Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, and Bolívar have united in a $2 million project to realize this dream, with hopes to inaugurate it within a year.

I’m traveling right now for a few weeks—in the US—and it has put me in a pensive mood. I find myself somewhat disconnected from my surroundings. Denver is still familiar to me but does not seem like home anymore. Nor does Florida, my mother’s adopted home state. I feel like I’m a passenger on a […]

The total number of kidnapped migrants is in the thousands, and many do not report these incidents out of fear. Organized crime networks intercept groups of migrants, with taxi or bus drivers sometimes selling travelers to traffickers.

Ecuador’s economy is facing a challenging year in 2024, with significant hurdles such as power outages and political uncertainty due to upcoming elections.

Rapid erosion threatens Ecuador’s largest hydroelectric plant, Coca Codo Sinclair, prompting concerns about its stability and operational future.

Despite no judicial experience, Martínez says she aims to modernize and bring transparency to the Council.

Construction failures and natural risks threaten to permanently put Coca Codo Sinclair, Ecuador’s largest hydroelectric plant, out of operation. Three risks could permanently disable Coca Codo Sinclair, which, with 1,500 megawatts of power, is the largest hydroelectric plant in Ecuador. Coca Codo Sinclair is located between the Amazonian provinces of Napo and Sucumbíos. It was […]

Correismo members on the Oversight Commission approved a report recommending that the Plenary Assembly archive the impeachment trial against Wilman Terán, the former president of the Judiciary Council. On Saturday, June 29, 2024, the Assembly’s Oversight Committee approved a report to file the impeachment petition against Wilman Terán, former president of the Judiciary Council, along […]

In a concerted effort to provide financial assistance to the most vulnerable families and address teenage pregnancies, the government has announced several new measures and programs. More than 1.4 million people currently receive some form of bonus or pension from the state. The government allocates around $1.3 billion annually for these initiatives. Starting in October, […]

Just when you think you’ve seen it all…the Correístas find a way to amaze yet again. Much like a magician who uses sleight of hand to stop you from seeing the big reveal, the Correístas have managed to corrupt the political system once more to let one of their own escape justice. I’m talking, of […]

Four days ago, the Government approached the World Jurist Association (WJA) with the aim of preparing a new state of emergency decree, this time to pass the filters of the Constitutional Court. President Daniel Noboa will attempt again to declare a state of emergency due to the insecurity situation that Ecuador is experiencing, after the […]

The National Government is preparing a new police and military intervention in Durán, involving different ministries. Former presidential candidate Jan Topic is leading a new strategy with the municipality and the private sector, which includes patrols with armored vehicles. The interventions in Durán have lost the element of surprise. Middle managers of the criminal gangs […]

Ecuador’s electricity sector is currently grappling with several major crises, with significant implications for the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant. The Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant has ceased operations due to sediment buildup. Consequently, an emergency has been declared to contract new energy sources. This situation is further exacerbated by the threat of low water […]

Daniel Noboa Azín, President of Ecuador, has exhausted all institutional means to legitimize his candidacy for the 2025 general elections without relinquishing his duties. The only option left is for the Contentious Electoral Tribunal (TCE) to process a complaint for electoral infringement against Vice President Verónica Abad Rojas and potentially disqualify her. After the State […]

During the governments of Lenín Moreno and Guillermo Lasso, the indigenous movement carried out violent protests resulting in deaths and economic losses. The government of Daniel Noboa announced a $0.26 increase in the price of a gallon of extra and Ecopaís gasoline, along with a price adjustment based on a band scheme tied to the […]

This week, the Cuenca Dispatch covers familiar topics: Iza, Abad, Noboa, Mexico, and Coca Codo Sinclair. While all of this information is important, it doesn’t particularly excite me—and that’s a good thing. What I mean is that none of these issues are so outrageous that I feel the need to go on and on about […]

Leonidas Iza Salazar, the president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie), has accused the government of Daniel Noboa Azín of allegedly introducing “henchmen” to disrupt their organizational structures. This accusation comes amidst actions rejecting the government’s economic policies. On June 21, 2024, during the celebration of Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun), […]

The Secretary of Management and Development of Peoples and Nationalities of Ecuador, and former leader of Conaie, Marco Guatemal, recently discussed the objectives of his administration and why he believes the elimination of gasoline subsidies does not warrant a popular mobilization. Unlike his predecessor, President Daniel Noboa chose a representative from the same indigenous movement, […]