Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa narrowly escaped harm on Tuesday after his motorcade came under gunfire during a violent protest in the country’s central region, government officials confirmed.
According to Environment Minister Ines Manzano, the incident occurred in Cañar Province, where the president had gone to inaugurate a water treatment plant. His convoy was reportedly ambushed by a crowd of about 500 protesters demonstrating against recent diesel price increases.
“People were throwing stones, and there are obviously bullet marks on the president’s car as well,” Manzano said in a televised statement. “Thank God, our president — very firm and brave — keeps moving forward, carrying out his agenda as usual.”
Video footage released by the Ecuadorian Presidency showed chaotic scenes as demonstrators, many draped in national and indigenous flags, hurled rocks and other projectiles at the presidential convoy. In the clip, a voice can be heard shouting, “Cover your head! Cover your head!” as projectiles shattered a vehicle window.
While President Noboa emerged unhurt, the attack underscores the growing instability in Ecuador following the government’s controversial decision to raise diesel prices — a move it insists is necessary to stabilise the nation’s struggling economy.
The protests, which began peacefully, have escalated into violent clashes in several parts of the country, with roads blocked and public buildings targeted. Authorities have suggested that drug cartels, which are battling for control of lucrative cocaine smuggling routes, may be exploiting the unrest to destabilise the government.
