GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador – The nation of Ecuador is gripped by outrage and despair following the disappearance of four Afro-Ecuadorian children detained by military personnel during what was supposed to be a simple game of football on December 8. The case has ignited protests throughout the country as families demand justice and answers, driven by deeply-rooted feelings of injustice and fear.
On the day they went missing, Ismael and Josué Arroyo, aged 15 and 14, along with their friend 15-year-old Saúl Arboleda and 11-year-old Steven Medina, were playing soccer in the Las Malvinas neighborhood of Guayaquil when they were arrested by soldiers. Eyewitness accounts and circulating video evidence depict a troubling scene where the military apprehended the children and transported them away violently.
Following their arrest, Luis Arroyo, the father of one of the boys, rehashed the horror, stating, “I received a call from my son asking for help and to be rescued. That call was the last time I heard his voice.” A witness revealed the child was stripped and beaten prior to the call, stirring more outrage within the community.
The backdrop to this tragedy is the expanded powers granted to the military to engage in domestic security, resulting from President Daniel Noboa’s declaration of a state of emergency at the beginning of January 2024. His government’s response has raised eyebrows, especially when Defense Secretary Gian Carlo Loffredo suggested the children were involved in criminal activities, claiming they had been engaged in robbery, which contradicts the prosecutor’s findings. According to Christian Fárez, the prosecutor handling the case, there are “no evidence, police reports or testimonies to support the version of an alleged robbery.”
Such conflicting narratives have only fueled public anger. Many Ecuadorians, especially those within the Afro-Ecuadorian community, feel their children have been unjustly targeted and victimized by the very forces entrusted to protect them. Protests erupted on December 23rd, with calls for the children to be returned, reflecting the urgency felt by families and advocates alike. “The families of Las Malvinas do not want child heroes; they want their children to come home alive,” stated Viviana Veloz, President of Parliament.
The situation escalated when news broke of four charred bodies found near Taura, not far from the military base. Forensic analysis is currently underway, as the state of decomposition raises fears for the families involved who are yet to receive clarity about the identities of the deceased. With uncertainty cloaking their future, families are left to navigate the impending horrors of what could be the ultimate loss, as experts warn of potential “extrajudicial executions” if the links between the military and the bodies are confirmed.
The government has faced immense scrutiny, especially following President Noboa's comments attempting to frame the children as “national heroes” rather than focusing on their safe return. Observers deemed his remarks as tone-deaf, with public sentiment increasingly aligning with the families demanding justice. The UN has voiced concerns, with Jan Jarab, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasizing the need for authorities to expedite searches for the missing children as “the most urgent objective.”
Calls for accountability have cascaded down from both civil society and international observers. Ecuadorian justice bodies are now reviewing the military's role, with reports underscoring the presence of surveillance footage depicting soldiers taking two of the boys. Rights groups, including the Association of Relatives and Friends of Disappeared Persons, have heightened their demands, stressing the systemic nature of forced disappearances linked to state actions over the years. “The disappearance of persons [by the state] is considered a crime against humanity,” the organization asserted.
This tragic case has also reopened dialogue around historical injustices within Ecuadorian society, particularly the treatment of Afro-Ecuadorian populations. Activists noted how state actions often reflect underlying racial biases – arresting children based on their socioeconomic backgrounds and racial identities, exacerbated during heightened security measures. Family members and protestors have drawn comparisons to the Restrepo case, where two young boys were tortured and disappeared by state forces during the harsh government period of the 1980s – illustrating how these issues transcend generations.
Protest rallies are set to continue, with increasing traction as the public rallies around the belief of justice for these children longing for resolution. Historical grievances are converging, and voices emboldened by collective suffering are demanding accountability and structural changes responsive to marginalized communities. The urgency for swift action is palpable as families and activists call for the reformation of military engagement within civilian settings, lest the shadows of inequality deepen once more.
This heart-wrenching chapter still remains open, and the future of not just the four missing boys but many more hangs delicately as advocates demand justice not merely for these children, but for the rights of every citizen.
