President Announces Curfew from 1 November: Here’s Why

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has announced a new curfew in several coastal provinces from 1 to 10 November 2026 to combat organised crime. The government says a similar restriction imposed previously helped reduce crime by 40%.

“We will carry out a new series of special operations between 1 and 10 November, with a curfew in the coastal provinces,” Noboa said in an interview with Radio Centro on Wednesday (14 October 2026).

Noboa said the previous measure, imposed from 17 to 30 September in Guayas, Los Rios, Manabi and El Oro, reduced crime by 40%. He also reported a fall in extortion cases and said security operations had weakened criminal organisations by targeting their finances and leadership.

The September curfew restricted residents’ movements from midnight until 5am local time. Noboa described it as the third such curfew imposed this year; the November measure will be the fourth.

Noboa also said authorities seized more than eight tonnes of drugs during September. He estimated that the seizures caused criminal organisations losses of about US$400 million, or the equivalent of Rp7.12 trillion.

However, Noboa has not specified which provinces will be affected or the hours of the latest restrictions. The government has also yet to issue an executive decree formalising the measure.

Ecuador has been under a state of internal armed conflict since 2024, when Noboa designated criminal groups as terrorist organisations and stepped up military and police operations.

Data cited by the Ministry of the Interior show that the country recorded around 9,300 homicides in 2025, the highest figure in its history.

The new curfew will coincide with Ecuador’s early-November holiday period. The government is expected to issue a decree soon setting out the affected areas and details of the restrictions.