The gruesome assassination of anti-corruption presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has cast a dark shadow over Ecuador's political landscape. Gissella Cecibel Molina, Villavicencio's friend and associate, nearly lost an eye during the brutal incident in Quito, the capital city. She recalls the terrifying moments of that day.
Molina, who herself seeks re-election in the National Assembly, said that they had just left a political rally when the attack transpired. A man wearing a flag emblazoned with 'Fernando Villavicencio for President' suddenly emerged, shot Villavicencio, and fled.
His violent murder – and several others of political figures and activists recently – has focused global attention on Ecuador's rising tide of political violence, facilitated by powerful and ruthless criminal organizations.
Investigations have led to the arrests of six Colombian nationals involved in Villavicencio's murder. Sources have linked the suspects to organized crimes. The alleged shooter, however, died while under police custody.
According to Jan Topic, a contender in the presidential race, Ecuador's strategic position in the international cocaine trade route is the root of this escalating violence. The country's loose border controls enable drug cartels to infiltrate the country and conduct their nefarious activities with relative ease.
Once considered a safe region, the crime rate in Ecuador has alarmingly escalated akin to those in its neighboring countries - Colombia and Mexico - notorious for long-standing drug cartel violence. With the involvement of international criminal syndicates such as Mexican cartels, Brazilian urban gangs, and Albanian mafia cells, the country's situation has grown direr.
A report by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime suggests members from Balkan traffickers and Italian crime syndicates have set foot in Ecuador to establish their European supply lines. The infusion of drug money in Ecuador precipitates corruption in the political landscape, poisoning the systems from within.
All eyes are now on this year's snap poll. In the wake of Villavicencio's assassination, candidates scramble to address the crime issue that has crept its way to the forefront of the national conversation. Promoting a tough stance against crime, Topic echoes the sentiments of his Salvadoran counterpart, President Nayib Bukele, known for his iron fist against criminal gangs. Villavicencio's running mate, Andrea González Náder, meanwhile, continues his battle against criminal gangs and corruption.
Election frontrunner, Luisa González plans to bolster Ecuador's security forces and intelligence systems, potentially reestablishing an intelligence task force with Colombia.
In her quest to "change Ecuador for the better,” Molina, despite her injury, has pledged not only to mitigate the influence of criminal syndicates but also hold corrupt politicians accountable, ensuring justice is served.
