An official from Ecuador’s government has accused demonstrators of trying to assault President Daniel Noboa, stating that around 500 protesters encircled his vehicle and hurled stones.
The incident occurred in the El Tambo canton within the south-central Canar province, as Noboa arrived to attend a ceremony focused on water sanitation and sewage infrastructure.
Ines Manzano, the Minister of Environment and Energy, reported that Noboa’s vehicle bore “bullet-like damage.” She confirmed filing a formal complaint alleging an attempted assassination.
“Firing at the president’s convoy, throwing rocks, and vandalizing government property are criminal acts,” Manzano declared. “Such behavior will not be tolerated.”
Following the event, the presidential office released a statement condemning the attack and promising to hold perpetrators accountable.
“Following directives to escalate tensions, attackers targeted a presidential convoy transporting civilians, aiming to obstruct the delivery of a community development project,” the statement posted on social media read.
“Those apprehended will face charges including terrorism and attempted homicide,” it added.
Manzano confirmed that five individuals have been arrested in connection with the episode. President Noboa emerged unharmed.
Footage shared by the presidential office shows Noboa’s motorcade moving through a road flanked by protesters, some of whom picked up stones and threw them at the vehicles, resulting in cracked windows.
Another image depicted a silver SUV with a broken passenger window and windshield. It remains unclear whether any bullets were fired based on the visuals.
Daniel Noboa, Ecuador’s youngest president to date, secured re-election in April after a contentious runoff against leftist contender Luisa Gonzalez.
His first full presidential term began in May. Prior to this, Noboa, a conservative politician with a single term in the National Assembly, had completed the remaining 18 months of Guillermo Lasso’s presidency after Lasso dissolved his government.
Addressing crime has been a cornerstone of Noboa’s campaign. Once regarded as a peaceful nation in South America, Ecuador has experienced a surge in homicides as criminal groups vie to control drug trafficking corridors.
The country’s economy has also faced challenges recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since assuming office, Noboa has encountered numerous protests. Recently, public backlash intensified over his decision to terminate a fuel subsidy that opponents argue benefits low-income households.
The administration contends the subsidy inflated government expenses without effectively reaching the intended recipients. In a statement dated September 12, officials accused the subsidy of being “misappropriated for smuggling, illegal mining, and undue advantages.”
The government highlighted that the subsidy cost $1.1 billion, funds that could be redirected to directly support small-scale farmers and transport workers.
In response, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), the nation’s leading Indigenous rights organization, initiated a strike, urging supporters to protest and block roads to express their dissent.
However, on Tuesday, CONAIE refuted claims of a coordinated assault on Noboa’s convoy, instead accusing the government of orchestrating violence against peaceful protesters.
“We condemn the arbitrary detention of at least five comrades,” CONAIE posted on X, adding that elderly women were among those targeted.
They emphasized that the protests had entered their 16th day, asserting, “The people are not the enemy.”
While CONAIE largely supported Noboa’s opponent Gonzalez in the April election, some affiliated groups fractured and backed Noboa.
This is not the first occasion Noboa’s administration has alleged an assassination attempt against the president. In April, shortly after the runoff, authorities declared a “maximum alert” after claiming assassins had crossed into Ecuador from Mexico to destabilize the government.
At that time, the administration blamed disgruntled election losers for orchestrating the alleged plot.
