Friends in Ecuador/ The mayor and one of her advisers are executed

2024-03-24 22:04:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Friends in Ecuador/ The mayor and one of her advisers are executed

Brigitte Garcia

Brigitte Garcia, the mayor of the coastal city of San Vicente, Ecuador, was executed this Sunday, according to Ecuadorian police. She is the last elected official to be assassinated in Ecuador.

Garcia was killed amid a state of emergency declared by Daniel Noboa's government to fight criminal gangs.

Mayor Brigitte Garcia, along with another member of the local government of San Vicente, located in the province of Manabi in the eastern region of the country, were shot dead. According to the Ecuadorian police, both bodies were found dead inside a vehicle, having been shot with firearms.

Friends in Ecuador/ The mayor and one of her advisers are executed

The police are investigating the scene and are working to extract as much evidence as possible. Brigitte Garcia was a 27-year-old young politician, member of the Civic Revolution party, with socialist ideology. Former president Rafael Correa was a leader in the party.

The fight against drug trafficking

Ecuador is fighting armed gangs, which are engaged in drug trafficking and operate mainly on the Pacific coast of the country. In this region, various gangs are fighting the government for control of the city of Guayaquil.

Friends in Ecuador/ The mayor and one of her advisers are executed

As of January 2024, after the escape of the leader of the Los Choneros gang, President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency and requested the assistance of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces to help enforce the law, fight armed gangs.

His strategy is compared to that of Nayib Bukele in El Salvador. While the government managed to temporarily mitigate the impact of gang violence, there has been a marked increase in violence aimed at elected officials. A few months ago, the mayor of another coastal city, Manta, was also shot./ CNA