Noboa declares 'internal armed conflict' in Ecuador, offers immunity to foreign soldiers
President Daniel Noboa signed a decree on Thursday ratifying the country's internal armed conflict, paving the way for foreign military deployment and pardons for security forces.
Decree and declaration
President Daniel Noboa signed Executive Decree 424 on 18 June 2026, formally recognising an internal armed conflict in Ecuador. The text states that "complex factual circumstances seriously threaten national sovereignty, the integral security of the State, public order, social peace, citizen security and the protection of the population." The government aims to "neutralise all structures that constitute a threat" and will receive international cooperation to strengthen operations.
From today, narcoterrorists will face a stronger, better prepared Ecuador, one that no longer fights alone.
The decree also grants the president the power to issue pardons, reduce or commute sentences for military, police and civilian personnel who participate in actions against the conflict. It further exhorts the National Assembly to grant amnesties for those who have acted in defence of the State.
- President Noboa first declares internal armed conflict, deploying military against criminal groups.
- New 60-day state of exception declared in ten provinces and three municipalities.
- Decree 424 signed, ratifying the conflict, offering immunity to foreign soldiers and pardons for security forces.
- 13,000 soldiers begin deployment to Guayas, Manabí, El Oro and Los Ríos.
Military deployment
A total of 13,000 soldiers began deploying on Thursday to four of the most violent provinces: the coastal provinces of Guayas (capital Guayaquil), Manabí, El Oro on the border with Peru, and the tropical province of Los Ríos. These areas are key routes for criminal groups sending drugs to Europe and North America. Troops are moving from lower-crime territories to reinforce patrols, weapons controls and operations against armed groups.
The objective is to reduce violent deaths and take control of the cities categorised as the most violent.
Approximately 6,000 of the 13,000 soldiers will remain in Guayas, joining permanently assigned forces. Up to May, Guayas concentrated 1,521 murders of the 3,485 recorded nationwide.
- Guayas
- 1521
- Rest of the country
- 1964
Foreign military and immunity
The decree explicitly states that foreign personnel from cooperating states who participate in operations "shall enjoy immunity in accordance with the applicable international instruments and agreements signed by the Republic of Ecuador." Noboa said the measure is the result of months of work, especially after the last meeting at the Pentagon. The United States already provides intelligence support, but until now had no troops on the ground.
Human rights context
Amnesty International and other organisations have reported alleged abuses by the military during the previous internal armed conflict declared in 2024. The Prosecutor's Office has registered 43 cases of alleged forced disappearances under that framework. The new decree comes alongside a fresh 60-day state of exception covering ten provinces and three municipalities.
Military personnel from allied countries will be able to deploy in the provinces hardest hit by violence to work alongside our security bloc.
