Violence escalates in anti-Noboa indigenous protests

Protests led by Ecuador’s Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (CONAIE) have erupted across the country, turning into one of the most intense challenges yet to President Daniel Noboa’s government. The demonstrations have escalated into deadly clashes, leaving three protesters dead and prompting multiple attacks on the president himself.

Unrest began after Noboa announced the end of fuel subsidies last month, a measure his administration called essential to curbing Ecuador’s growing fiscal deficit, now near 5% of gross domestic product. 

In a dollarized economy that cannot print money to pay its debts, the move helped stabilize investor confidence, bringing Ecuador’s bond premiums down to 7% from 18% earlier this year, when the country teetered on the brink of default.