The government has said “large alerts” from rival bids to kill a re-elected president.
Ecuador has declared the state of “large alert” over its assassination plan against President Daniel Novoa.
In a statement issued early on Saturday entitled “The Revenge of the Bad Losers,” the government ministry said “all security protocols have been activated.”
Noboa was re-elected earlier this month and has pledged to continue repression of the rampaging cartel violence that tormented Ecuador. His opponent, Luisa Gonzalez, continues to argue that the vote is fraudulent.
The statement follows a leak in a military intelligence report earlier this week that stated that assassins entering Ecuador from Mexico and other countries were planning to carry out a “terrorist attack” against Novoa.
The government’s statement alleges that “bad losers” from the April 13 election last year hired Sicarios (hitman) from Mexico and other countries to destabilise the government.
“The state is on alert. All security protocols are activated, and the military, national police and intelligence agency are working together.”
Citing sources, it reports “conspiracy to assassinate, terrorist attacks and street riots through violent demonstrations.”
The plot said it targets “the lives of the presidents of the Republic, state authorities and civil servants.”
Although it does not provide a name, the statement appears to denounce the Civic Revolution Movement (RC5), whose leader is Gonzalez, which links it to former President Rafael Correa, who plans to attack.
Ecuadorian media reports also suggested that support from foreign leaders, including Mexican President Claudia Sinbaum, could be approaching.
In a diplomatic fallout released last year, Sheinbaum announced Wednesday that Mexico will not restore diplomatic relations with Ecuador as long as Novoa is in office.
Mexican leaders publicly supported Gonzalez in the election.
The reported assassination plot lies in a pattern that expands Ecuadorian violence, including the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in 2023.
Rampaging violence by criminal gangs involved in human trafficking from neighboring Peru and Colombia, the world’s largest cocaine producers, has also devastated the country.
In the latest case, at least 12 people were killed in an attack in the coastal state of Manavi on Friday as a shooter in fake uniforms fired on spectators in bullfighting.
Novoa declared a “internal armed conflict” to fight drug gangs last January, reflecting the ongoing struggle against organized crime.
In addition to his promise to boost the nation’s flag-raising economy, it was seen as key to helping him win reelection earlier this month.
But Gonzalez, who claimed “grotesque” fraud following a tight first round in February, said he plans to challenge the outcome with election officials late Wednesday.
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