31 Inmates Die in Ecuador Prison Riot

Published 7 hours ago·Updated 5 hours ago

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Above: Ecuadorian police at the Machala jail in Machala, Ecuador on Nov. 10, 2025. Image copyright: Jhonny Crespo/Getty Images

The Spin

Left narrative

Ecuador's prison system has collapsed under decades of neglect, creating deadly conditions where overcrowding and corruption allow gangs to flourish. More than 500 people have died in prison riots since 2021, with heavily armed inmates continuing criminal operations from behind bars. The state's weak control has turned prisons into battlegrounds for drug trafficking organizations.

Global Voices Independent

Right narrative

Noboa is taking decisive action against Ecuador's gang violence by designating dangerous criminal organizations as military targets and partnering with the United States to combat drug trafficking. His administration is working to relocate dangerous inmates to maximum security facilities, while collaborating with American officials to restore order. These tough measures represent real progress after years of socialist mismanagement.

La Tercera Breitbart