The right-leaning Daniel Noboa triumphed over leftist candidate Luisa Gonzalez, amidst claims of electoral misconduct.
Daniel Noboa, Ecuador’s youngest president and scion of a well-known banana-exporting business, has officially taken office for his full term. His main agenda includes intensifying efforts against entrenched drug cartels and revitalizing the ailing economy.
During a ceremony at Quito’s National Assembly on Saturday, Noboa was inaugurated by Assembly President Niels Olsen Peet, who ceremoniously draped the presidential sash over his shoulders. The two then raised their joined hands in a poignant symbol of solidarity.
At 37, Noboa secured his position after previously completing the last 18 months of his predecessor’s term, outpacing leftist opponent Luisa Gonzalez, despite her claims of electoral fraud.
In his address to lawmakers, Noboa emphasized his commitment to significantly reducing violent crime rates, stating, “A marked decrease in homicides will be a fundamental objective.” He asserted plans to combat drug trafficking more aggressively, including seizing illegal arms and enforcing stricter control at Ecuador’s ports.
Ecuador, historically one of the more stable nations in Latin America, has recently experienced a troubling surge in violence. Drug traffickers, including powerful Mexican cartels, have taken advantage of porous borders and weak governmental institutions to expand their reach.
In response, Noboa has implemented militarized strategies, deploying the armed forces in urban areas and enhancing security at critical infrastructure sites. His approach has drawn comparisons to El Salvador’s contentious anti-gang tactics, which have garnered both praise for their effectiveness and criticism from human rights advocates due to allegations of mass detentions and abuses.
Noboa has mentioned El Salvador, along with the United States and Israel, as key allies in Ecuador’s security reform efforts. Additionally, his administration has contracted Erik Prince, founder of the private military firm Blackwater, to provide strategic advice, a move that has raised concerns among opposition leaders and human rights groups about increasing militarization and diminishing oversight.
Although Noboa has reported a 15% decrease in violent deaths for 2024, government statistics reveal a staggering 58% rise in killings during the first four months of 2025 compared to the same period the previous year, with 3,094 deaths recorded.