Violence erupted in Ecuador on Sunday, September 28, 2025, as clashes between law enforcement and Indigenous protesters over a controversial fuel subsidy cut left one demonstrator dead, dozens injured, and several soldiers briefly held hostage. The unrest, centered in the Andean community north of Quito, highlights deepening tensions between President Daniel Noboa’s government and Indigenous groups, who have long been at the forefront of social movements in the country.
The protests were sparked by President Noboa’s September 12 decision to eliminate a longstanding subsidy for diesel fuel, causing prices to surge from $1.80 to $2.80 per gallon. The abrupt increase hit Ecuador’s rural and Indigenous communities especially hard, where transportation and agricultural costs are particularly sensitive to fuel prices. The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador—known as Conaie, the country’s largest Indigenous rights organization—called for an indefinite national strike in response, mobilizing thousands across several provinces.
Sunday marked the seventh day of escalating demonstrations. According to the Regional Foundation for Human Rights Advice, a 46-year-old protester named Efrain Fuerez was shot three times and died in hospital in Cotacachi, about 100 kilometers north of Quito. The organization stated, “the male protester died after being shot,” while Conaie described Fuerez as an Indigenous community member killed as a result of government repression. Another demonstrator was reported in critical condition.
Conaie issued a forceful statement following the death: “We hold Daniel Noboa responsible, we demand an immediate investigation and justice for Efrain and his community.” They also shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing soldiers kicking two men on the ground—one apparently injured and the other attempting to help him. The footage, widely circulated on social media, has fueled outrage among Indigenous communities and human rights advocates.
On the other side, Ecuador’s Armed Forces reported that 12 soldiers were injured during the same confrontation. The military said the soldiers were “guarding a food convoy” when they were “violently ambushed by terrorist groups that had infiltrated in Cotacachi.” Images shared by the military showed bloodied soldiers, and a video depicted a uniformed man surrounded and attacked by more than a dozen people, some wielding sticks. The soldier could be heard pleading, “Don’t hit me.” Later, the Armed Forces claimed that 17 soldiers were briefly taken hostage by protesters before being released.
Government minister Zaida Rovira condemned the attack on the soldiers, calling it a “cowardly ambush carried out by criminal groups—terrorists—that attacked our Armed Forces.” President Noboa, for his part, has accused demonstrators of having ties to organized crime and illegal mining groups, specifically naming the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua as being behind the protests. He warned that protesters who break the law “will be charged with terrorism and will go to prison for 30 years.”
Official figures show that more than 80 people have been arrested since the protests began, with 13 facing terrorism charges. The government’s tough stance has drawn criticism from human rights groups. INREDH, a prominent Ecuadorian human rights organization, condemned what it called the “lethal and illegitimate use of force” in the Fuerez case. Meanwhile, Ecuador’s Prosecutor’s Office announced it would open an investigation into the “alleged death” of Efrain Fuerez, stating on X that a specialized team would look into the unlawful use of force “to guarantee the objectivity of the process.”
The government’s response to the unrest has been sweeping. On September 16, President Noboa declared a state of emergency in eight of Ecuador’s 24 provinces and imposed a nighttime curfew in five provinces with large Indigenous populations. The measures, which remain in effect, have been justified by officials as necessary to restore order and protect critical infrastructure, such as food supply convoys. However, Indigenous leaders and many civil society groups see the crackdown as excessive and a violation of fundamental rights.
Road blockades and direct confrontations with police and military forces have become common sights in affected areas. According to BBC reporting, protesters have challenged Noboa’s administration by blocking highways and occupying key intersections, disrupting transportation and commerce. The scale and intensity of the demonstrations evoke memories of past Indigenous-led uprisings in Ecuador, including those that toppled three presidents between 1997 and 2005.
The demographic stakes are significant. While official census figures put Ecuador’s Indigenous population at around 8% of the country’s 17 million people, community leaders maintain that the true figure is closer to 25%. For many, the fuel subsidy was not just an economic lifeline but also a symbol of state recognition of Indigenous needs and rural hardship. The sudden removal of the subsidy, without what protesters describe as adequate consultation or mitigation measures, has been viewed as a betrayal.
President Noboa, elected on a platform of economic reform and anti-crime measures, faces a daunting challenge. His administration argues that the fuel subsidy was unsustainable and disproportionately benefited wealthier urban drivers and smugglers. But critics say the government failed to anticipate or address the real-world impact on vulnerable communities. Marlon Vargas, president of Conaie, has repeatedly denounced what he calls “repression by law enforcement” and has urged international organizations to remain vigilant as the situation unfolds.
As the crisis continues, both sides appear entrenched. The government insists on a hard line, linking the protests to criminal and terrorist elements and warning of severe penalties. Protest leaders, on the other hand, demand justice for the death of Efrain Fuerez, the restoration of the fuel subsidy, and an end to what they describe as state violence. The atmosphere is tense, with the risk of further escalation looming large.
International observers have begun to take notice. Human rights groups are calling for independent investigations, and regional organizations are monitoring the situation closely. The outcome of Ecuador’s standoff could have ripple effects beyond its borders, as other Latin American nations grapple with similar tensions over subsidy reforms, Indigenous rights, and the balance between security and civil liberties.
For now, the streets of Ecuador remain a battleground—one where longstanding grievances, economic hardship, and questions of justice collide in unpredictable and often tragic ways.
