Noboa formalizes a new curfew in five provinces of Ecuador starting November 1, 2026

Around 75,000 police officers and military personnel are taking part in the operations. The president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, formalized a new curfew that will begin at 00:00 on Sunday, November 1, and will be applied for ten days in five provinces of the Coastal region. The decision, adopted through Executive Decree 519, signed on October 15 in Manta, establishes restrictions on freedom of movement between midnight and 05:00 as part of the security operations against organized crime. The measure covers the provinces of Guayas, Manabí, Los Ríos, El Oro, and Esmeraldas, territories where criminal organizations linked to drug trafficking and other illicit activities operate. According to information published by Primicias, the Government confirmed that Santa Elena, also located on the Coast, will not be included in the restriction. The curfew will not apply in Pichincha or in Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas either, although both provinces remain under a state of exception. The measure will take effect during the national holiday for the Day of the Deceased and the Independence of Cuenca, one of the dates with the highest tourist and commercial travel on the Ecuadorian calendar. The restrictions will affect nighttime movement in cities such as Guayaquil, Manta, Portoviejo, Machala, Babahoyo, and Esmeraldas, where authorities will deploy military and police controls. President Daniel Noboa. (Carlos Silva/Ecuadorian presiden / DPA) The new decree modifies Article 4 of Executive Decree 498, issued in September, and maintains grave internal commotion as its legal basis. According to information gathered by El Comercio, the document incorporates military, police, and security intelligence reports that warn about the persistence of violent incidents and the adaptability of criminal organizations. Between September 17 and October 13, 2026, the National Police counted 483 victims of intentional homicides in Ecuador. Of that total, 281 murders, equivalent to 58.18%, occurred between 18:00 and 05:59. In the five provinces where the new restriction will be applied, 33 homicides were recorded between midnight and 05:00 during that period. The police report indicates that Guayas accounted for 15 of those murders, followed by El Oro with nine; Manabí with six; Los Ríos with two; and Esmeraldas with one. In addition, the ECU 911 Integrated Security System reported 12,468 emergencies related to citizen security during the early-morning time frame in those jurisdictions. President Noboa had anticipated the decision on Wednesday, October 14, during a radio interview in Ambato. According to Ecuavisa, the head of state announced a new series of special operations between November 1 and 10. Subsequently, the Minister of the Interior, John Reimberg, explained that the restriction seeks to facilitate the interventions of security forces and reduce the risk of harm to the civilian population. The Government also presented the results of the curfew applied between September 17 and 30 in four provinces. During that period, the Armed Forces carried out 1,673 operations and reported 216 arrests, in addition to the seizure of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and illicit substances. The authorities consider that these results support the continuation of the nighttime restrictions. The decree provides exceptions for healthcare personnel, emergency services, strategic sectors, justice officials, journalists, and accredited international organizations. It also stipulates that controls be carried out in a rational and proportional manner, taking into account the particular circumstances of those who need to move about. The new measure constitutes the fourth curfew applied in Ecuador during 2026. Its implementation places five coastal provinces under nighttime restrictions, while the Government maintains its operations against the criminal structures responsible for a significant portion of the armed violence affecting the country.