Ecuador’s military confirmed on Friday that at least 11 soldiers were killed and one wounded in an ambush by dissident FARC guerrillas during an operation aimed at combating illegal mining near the Colombian border. This incident highlights the ongoing violence stemming from factions that have rejected the historic peace agreement between FARC and the Colombian government, established in 2016.
The Ecuadoran military stated that dozens of personnel were involved in the operation when they were attacked with explosives, grenades, and firearms in the eastern province of Orellana. Initially, the office of the prosecutor reported eight fatalities, but the number has since been updated. The attack has been attributed to a criminal group known as Comandos de la Frontera, which is actively engaged in drug trafficking in the border area between Colombia and Ecuador.
In response to the tragedy, the prosecutor’s office announced that efforts were underway to recover the bodies and gather evidence at the site of the ambush. The military emphasized its commitment to bringing those responsible for this crime to justice, stating, “We will not rest until those responsible are judged before the law.”
Ecuador has witnessed a surge in violence in recent months, with an alarming murder rate reflecting the broader struggle for control over cocaine routes that traverse the country. The uptick in insecurity has adversely affected tourism and investment, contributing to rising poverty rates, which now affect 28 percent of the nation’s population.
While Comandos de la Frontera engages in peace negotiations with Colombian authorities, the United States is pursuing the extradition of the group’s detained leader, complicating the situation further. The violence in Ecuador underscores the challenges faced by a country that was once relatively peaceful but is now overwhelmed by the consequences of organized crime and its associated conflicts.
