Ecuador's Military Blocks Justice for Enforced
Amnesty International reports that Ecuador's Armed Forces continue to obstruct investigations into enforced disappearances linked to President Noboa's
One year after a report documented the enforced disappearance of 10 people, including six children, during President Daniel Noboa's 'Plan Fenix', military obstruction remains the main barrier to justice. Amnesty International states that the policy of militarizing public security continues to prevent families from learning the truth.
The progress achieved over the past year demonstrates that it is possible to respond to the demands for truth and justice made by the families, civil society, and international mechanisms, said Ana Piquer, Amnesty International's Regional Director for the Americas. She added that progress is insufficient while the military withholds essential information.
Legal Progress Amid Obstruction
Several legal milestones have been reached in the past year. In December 2025, a court convicted 16 military personnel for the enforced disappearance of four boys from Guayaquil's Las Malvinas neighborhood. Three months later, in February 2026, the Constitutional Court ordered the Air Force commander to issue a public apology to those boys' families, which was broadcast live.
In May 2026, a judge ruled that Dave Loor and Juan Santillán were victims of enforced disappearance. This decision came from a habeas corpus petition filed by their families, which the Armed Forces had appealed. Between January and August 2026, the Prosecutor's Office established working groups in Guayas and Los Ríos provinces to expedite searches and investigations, following orders from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Persistent Military Non-Cooperation
Despite these steps, the whereabouts of most victims remain unknown. The Ministry of Defense refuses to share information about the security operations during which the people vanished, claiming it is confidential. In September 2026, the Permanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDH Guayaquil) filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court to declassify this information.
Amnesty International supports this appeal, arguing that classifying information on human rights violations breaches Ecuador's international legal obligations. The organization states it violates the right to truth for victims and their families. Several families, who are part of a witness protection system, have reported harassment and intimidation by the Armed Forces.
Deepening Militarization and New Allegations
During 2026, Ecuador deepened its military and security cooperation with the United States to combat drug trafficking. This partnership has led to new allegations of serious human rights violations and crimes under international law in joint operations. Amnesty International documented one attack on an Ecuadorian vessel in this context, where the crew members' whereabouts are still unknown.
Ana Piquer called for a reversal of the militarized security strategy. The State must guarantee truth, justice, and reparation for all victims and their families, and reverse a militarized security strategy that has proven ineffective in reducing crime rates and has been accompanied by serious human rights violations, she said. The organization reiterates that only full respect for rights can build a safer Ecuador.
