Ecuador is reeling from a leaked military intelligence report alleging an assassination plot against recently reelected President Daniel Noboa. As the nation grapples with rampant drug violence and political tensions, this threat has put the government on maximum alert. What does this mean for Noboa’s leadership and Ecuador’s future?
[](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/19/ecuador-accuses-bad-losers-of-assassination-plot-against-president-noboa)The Alleged Plot and Government Response
On April 19, 2025, Ecuador’s Ministry of Government issued a statement titled “The Revenge of the Bad Losers,” condemning an alleged assassination plot targeting President Daniel Noboa, state authorities, and public officials. A leaked military intelligence report claimed that assassins from Mexico and other countries planned “terrorist attacks” against Noboa, who is set to be sworn in on May 24, 2025. The government accused “criminal structures in complicity with political sectors defeated at the polls” of orchestrating the plot, though no specific names were provided. Social media posts echoed these concerns, highlighting the involvement of foreign hitmen.
[](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/19/ecuador-accuses-bad-losers-of-assassination-plot-against-president-noboa)[](https://dnyuz.com/2025/04/19/ecuador-accuses-bad-losers-of-assassination-plot-against-president-noboa/)
Political Tensions and Electoral Fraud Claims
Noboa secured reelection on April 13, 2025, defeating leftist rival Luisa González by an 11-point margin, a wider lead than in their 2023 matchup. González, backed by former President Rafael Correa’s Citizen Revolution Movement (RC5), has accused Noboa of “grotesque electoral fraud” and vowed to seek a recount. Ecuador’s electoral council and international observers dismissed these claims, but Mexico and Colombia have not recognized Noboa’s victory. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s public support for González and her refusal to restore diplomatic ties with Ecuador have fueled speculation of foreign involvement in the plot.
[](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/04/13/ecuador-election-daniel-noboa/)[](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/19/ecuador-accuses-bad-losers-of-assassination-plot-against-president-noboa)[](https://www.bssnews.net/international/264528)Escalating Violence in Ecuador
The alleged plot comes amid a surge in drug-related violence, with Ecuador averaging a murder every hour in early 2025. The assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in 2023 and a recent attack in Manabi, where 12 people were killed at a cockfight, underscore the country’s security crisis. Noboa’s “iron fist” policies, including declaring an “internal armed conflict” in January 2024, have had mixed results, with homicides dropping from 46.18 per 100,000 in 2023 to 38.76 in 2024 but spiking again in 2025. Learn more about Ecuador’s violence at Planet-Today.
[](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/19/ecuador-accuses-bad-losers-of-assassination-plot-against-president-noboa)[](https://dnyuz.com/2025/04/19/ecuador-accuses-bad-losers-of-assassination-plot-against-president-noboa/)[](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/4-things-know-about-young-conservative-anti-crime-president-ecuador-who-just-re-elected)New Developments and Controversies
In April 2025, Verónica Sarauz, Villavicencio’s widow, released a video alleging Noboa’s involvement in a 2023 cover-up to frame a third candidate for her husband’s assassination, further intensifying political divisions. Noboa’s ties to U.S. President Donald Trump and private military contractor Erik Prince have also sparked debate, with critics accusing him of inviting foreign “mercenaries” to Ecuador. Meanwhile, González’s links to Correa, who is exiled in Belgium after a corruption conviction, have raised fears of a return to authoritarianism. These controversies are explored further at Al Jazeera.
[](https://www.democracynow.org/2025/4/15/ecuador_daniel_noboa)[](https://www.npr.org/2025/04/12/nx-s1-5359427/ecuadors-next-president-faces-rampant-drug-violence-and-few-resources-to-combat-it)[](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/04/13/ecuador-election-daniel-noboa/)Challenges Ahead for Noboa
Noboa, a 37-year-old heir to a banana empire, faces the daunting task of uniting a nation plagued by drug cartels, economic stagnation, and power shortages. His reelection campaign leveraged his tough-on-crime stance, but critics argue his policies skirt legal norms and fail to address root causes like police corruption. The assassination plot, if credible, could further destabilize Ecuador, especially given diplomatic tensions with Mexico. Noboa’s ability to navigate these challenges will define his four-year term.
[](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/04/13/ecuador-election-daniel-noboa/)[](https://americasquarterly.org/article/in-ecuador-mounting-challenges-threaten-noboas-reelection/)[](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/13/ecuador-presidential-runoff-election-noboa-gonzalez)Conclusion
Ecuador’s “maximum alert” status reflects the gravity of the alleged assassination plot against President Noboa. As political rivalries and drug violence escalate, the nation stands at a crossroads. Will Noboa’s leadership bring stability, or will these threats deepen the crisis? Share your views below!
Author: Planet-Today.com via AFP