Ecuador: Protests planned in Quito and Guayaquil Dec. 23

Activists affiliated with several organizations, including the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Confederacion de Nacionalidades Indigenas del Ecuador, CONAIE), plan to stage demonstrations in Quito and Guayaquil on Dec. 23. Participants in Guayaquil will gather outside Fiscalia Provincial on Victor Manuel Rendon Street from 09:00. In Quito, protesters plan to gather outside Fiscalia Ecuador on Avenida Patria from 15:00. The purpose of the protests is to raise awareness about four children who went missing in Las Malvinas area of Guayaquil on Dec. 8 and demand further investigations. Participation numbers remain unclear.

Police will likely deploy to monitor the protests. Associated business and transport disruptions in Quito and Guayaquil will likely occur during the demonstrations. The gatherings will likely remain peaceful, but skirmishes cannot be ruled out.