Brigitte Garcia, 27, the youngest mayor in the history of Ecuador, and her advisor, Jairo Loor, were found shot to death in a vehicle in the coastal town of San Vicente, Ecuador, on Sunday, March 24, 2024.
Once revered as a peaceful haven in Latin America, Ecuador is now grappling with a dramatic increase in gang-related violence. In response to escalating violence, including the escape of notorious gang leader Adolfo Fito Macias of the Los Choneros gang, President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency three months prior.
After the January emergency declaration, the Phoenix Plan was initiated, aiming to curb criminal activities by deploying military forces on the streets and taking over the country’s prisons. The government reported that the Phoenix Plan has resulted in over 12,000 arrests, 165,000 operations conducted, and the confiscation of 65 tons of drugs. However, Garcia’s murder, along with the continued violent incidents, underscores the formidable task Ecuador faces in dismantling entrenched gang networks. Violence continues unabated, exemplified by a recent deadly ambush in Sucumbios, causing one soldier’s death and three injuries, and a bomb threat in Latacunga.
The murder of Garcia and Loor has sparked widespread outrage, leading the government to promise improved security measures. The Ecuadorian National Police disclosed that the shots were fired from inside the vehicle, a detail which adds complexity to the ongoing investigation. The car, which was rented, is being tracked through its GPS system to gather additional information.
Beyond her political role as a representative of the Citizen Revolution Movement party, Garcia was a symbol of hope for her community. She had recently initiated a project to better water access. Her murder underscores the precarious security situation in Ecuador, which is struggling with the influence of transnational drug cartels and a surge in gang violence.
The assassination of Garcia has sent shockwaves through Ecuadorian politics. Luisa Gonzalez, the presidential candidate of Garcia’s party, expressed her shock and underscored the widespread insecurity plaguing the country. This incident follows the murder of Fernando Villavicencio, an anti-corruption presidential candidate, in August of last year, further emphasizing the dangerous conditions public officials in Ecuador face.
The surge in violence in Ecuador is part of a larger regional crisis. The rise in gang activities and drug trafficking is connected to weakened state institutions, corruption, and societal challenges amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ecuador’s strategic positioning between Peru and Colombia, the world’s leading cocaine producers, has made it a key transit point for drug trafficking, intensifying the violence. The international community, including the United States, has lent support to Ecuador in addressing these challenges. Nonetheless, experts argue that solely relying on a militarized response will not tackle the root causes of gang violence and drug trafficking.