America Ecuador Several illegal mining camps in the Andean province of Imbabura have destroyed; military operations in the area have intensified following deadly attacks by armed groups linked to ex-FARC dissidents and local gangs
America Ecuador Only two official border crossings have been kept open due to national security concerns, as Ecuador has faced rising cartel violence and now holds Latin America's highest homicide rate
America Ecuador Bank accounts of indigenous and environmental groups have been frozen, a move intended to suppress protests against fuel subsidy cuts and mining; courts have later lifted some of the freezes due to lack of evidence
America Ecuador Cacao exports from Ecuador have increased by 33% to 462.351 tons by October 2025 and have been projected to surpass 623.000 metric tons in 2026, according to the national exporters' association Anecacao
America Ecuador A national vote has been scheduled to decide whether to lift Ecuador's constitutional ban on foreign military bases amid rising violence and calls for US assistance in combating drug trafficking