Ecuador: Government extends state of emergency and curfew through April 7 /update 6

Authorities extended the existing state of emergency, as well as the related curfew, through April 7. Under the state of emergency, curfew hours vary based on risk designations made by the government.

The following cantons have been designated as high-risk areas and are under a 00:01-05:00 curfew:

• Canar Province: La Troncal Canton

• El Oro Province: Arenillas, Huaquillas, Machala, Pasaje, and Santa Rosa cantons

• Esmeraldas Province: Esmeraldas, Quininde, and San Lorenzo cantons

• Guayas Province: Balao, Balzar, Daule, Duran, Guayaquil, El Triunfo, Empalme, Milagro, Naranjal, Naranjito, Playas, and San Jacinto de Yaguachi cantons

• Los Rios Province: Babahoyo, Buena Fe, Pueblo Viejo, Quevedo, Valencia, Ventanas, and Vinces cantons

• Manabi Province: Manta, Montecristi, Pedernales, and Portoviejo cantons

• Pinchincha Province: Quito Canton

• Santa Elena Province: La Libertad, Salinas, and Santa Elena cantons

• Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas Province: Santo Domingo Canton

• Sucumbios Province: Lago Agrio Canton

The following cantons have been designated as medium-risk areas and are under a 02:00-05:00 curfew:

• Azuy Province: Camilo Ponce Enrique and Cuenca cantons

• Canar Province: Azogues Canton

• Carchi Province: Tulcan Canton

• Chimborazo Province: Riobamba Canton

• El Oro Province: El Guabo Canton

• Esmeraldas Province: Atacames Canton

• Guayas Province: Colimes, Lomas de Sargentillo, Nobol, Pedro Carbo, Samborondon, and Simon Bolivar cantons

• Los Rios Province: Baba, Mocache, and Urdaneta cantons

• Manabi Province: El Carmen and Sucre cantons

• Morona Santiago Province: Morona Canton

• Napo Province: Tena Canton

• Orellana Province: La Joya de los Sachas Canton

• Pichincha Province: Cayambe Canton

• Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas Province: La Concordia Canton

All cantons not designated as high- or medium-risk are considered low-risk locations and no longer subject to any curfew.

In areas under curfew, all persons must remain indoors during curfew hours. Exceptions exist for certain essential and emergency personnel as well as those traveling to and from airports who have flights during curfew hours.

The state of emergency continues to mandate a mobilization of the armed forces, authorizing them to carry out law-enforcement operations throughout the country and to intervene in the nation's prison system. It further declares the areas within a 1 km (0.6-mile) radius of all prisons to be secure zones where police and military forces may perform identification checks and searches of pedestrians and vehicles. The measures also suspend certain constitutional rights nationwide, including the right to assembly and freedom from warrantless searches.

President Daniel Noboa has additionally declared Ecuador to be in a state of internal armed conflict and listed 22 criminal groups as belligerent forces that can be targeted using military force. This declaration has dramatically broadened the authority of the armed forces to conduct operations against the groups in question; military operations are likely in all major cities, especially Guayaquil, where many of the groups are based.

In retaliation, criminal groups will likely continue attacks against the government, potentially including shooting at police convoys, detonating improvised explosive devices near government installations, and burning private vehicles. Attacks may also target high-level government officials, which would likely result in major police and military response.

Transport and business disruptions are likely. Military forces have deployed to seaports and airports throughout the country, and in Quito, police and military personnel are searching the bags of passengers entering the metro system. Additional searches and checkpoints are likely nationwide. Attacks sometimes prompt widespread business closures, as business owners fear being caught up in the violence.