Photos: Ecuadorian President Declares State of Emergency Amid National Unrest

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The riots in Ecuador came as authorities raided jails in search of weapons and to disperse gang members. Police searched the Guayaquil prison on Sunday but failed to find Los Choneros' leader Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar, known as Fito, the country's most dangerous criminal.
The head of the Joint Command of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces, RADM Jaime Vela Eraso, stated on Tuesday that 22 criminal organizations operating in the country were designated as a "military target" during a meeting of the security council. He added that there will be no negotiations with these groups.
On top of that, Ecuador’s President Noboa ordered the army to "neutralize" criminal groups operating in the country.
The country's police said on X that at least ten people, including two police officers, lost their lives during the riots in the Ecuadorian city of Guayaquil and the neighboring town of Nobol.
Furthermore, the Peruvian government announced the immediate deployment of a police task force to the border with Ecuador. A state of emergency was also declared along Peru's northern border with Ecuador.
Moreover, Argentina expressed its readiness to deploy security personnel to Ecuador in order to help restore law and order during the ongoing unrest. Buenos Aires described the situation as one that affects the entire continent.
Take a look at Sputnik Africa's photos to see what is happening in the Latin American country.
© AP Photo / Cesar Munoz

Police evacuate staff from the TC television channel station after a group of armed men broke onto their set during a live broadcast, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024.

Police evacuate staff from the TC television channel station after a group of armed men broke onto their set during a live broadcast, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. - Sputnik Africa
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Police evacuate staff from the TC television channel station after a group of armed men broke onto their set during a live broadcast, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024.

© AFP 2024 Rodrigo Buendia

Ecuadorean security forces patrol the area around the main square and presidential palace after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared the country in a state of "internal armed conflict" and ordered the army to carry out military operations against the country's powerful drug gangs, in downtown Quito on January 9, 2024.

Ecuadorean security forces patrol the area around the main square and presidential palace after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared the country in a state of "internal armed conflict" and ordered the army to carry out military operations against the country's powerful drug gangs, in downtown Quito on January 9, 2024. - Sputnik Africa
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Ecuadorean security forces patrol the area around the main square and presidential palace after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared the country in a state of "internal armed conflict" and ordered the army to carry out military operations against the country's powerful drug gangs, in downtown Quito on January 9, 2024.

© AFP 2024 Galo Paguay

A woman buys a product through a small window in a metal curtain in downtown Quito on January 9, 2024, amid growing tension after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared the country in a state of "internal armed conflict" and ordered the army to carry out military operations against the country's powerful drug gangs.

A woman buys a product through a small window in a metal curtain in downtown Quito on January 9, 2024, amid growing tension after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared the country in a state of "internal armed conflict" and ordered the army to carry out military operations against the country's powerful drug gangs. - Sputnik Africa
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A woman buys a product through a small window in a metal curtain in downtown Quito on January 9, 2024, amid growing tension after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared the country in a state of "internal armed conflict" and ordered the army to carry out military operations against the country's powerful drug gangs.

© AFP 2024 Marcos Pin

An Ecuadorean police helicopter overflies the premises of Ecuador's TC television channel after unidentified gunmen burst into the state-owned television studio live on air on January 9, 2024, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, a day after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency following the escape from prison of a dangerous narco boss.

An Ecuadorean police helicopter overflies the premises of Ecuador's TC television channel after unidentified gunmen burst into the state-owned television studio live on air on January 9, 2024, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, a day after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency following the escape from prison of a dangerous narco boss. - Sputnik Africa
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An Ecuadorean police helicopter overflies the premises of Ecuador's TC television channel after unidentified gunmen burst into the state-owned television studio live on air on January 9, 2024, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, a day after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency following the escape from prison of a dangerous narco boss.

© AP Photo / Dolores Ochoa

Soldiers patrol the perimeter of Inca prison during a state of emergency in Quito, Ecuador, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in the wake of the apparent escape of a powerful gang leader from prison.

Soldiers patrol the perimeter of Inca prison during a state of emergency in Quito, Ecuador, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in the wake of the apparent escape of a powerful gang leader from prison. - Sputnik Africa
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Soldiers patrol the perimeter of Inca prison during a state of emergency in Quito, Ecuador, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in the wake of the apparent escape of a powerful gang leader from prison.

© AFP 2024

Security forces cordon off the main square and presidential palace after Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa declared the country in a state of "internal armed conflict" and ordered the army to carry out military operations against the country's powerful drug gangs, in downtown Quito on January 9, 2024.

Security forces cordon off the main square and presidential palace after Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa declared the country in a state of "internal armed conflict" and ordered the army to carry out military operations against the country's powerful drug gangs, in downtown Quito on January 9, 2024. - Sputnik Africa
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Security forces cordon off the main square and presidential palace after Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa declared the country in a state of "internal armed conflict" and ordered the army to carry out military operations against the country's powerful drug gangs, in downtown Quito on January 9, 2024.

© AFP 2024 Stringer

Ecuadorean police officers fuard the arrested suspects outside Ecuador's TC television channel after unidentified gunmen burst into the state-owned television studio live on air on January 9, 2024, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, a day after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency following the escape from prison of a dangerous narco boss.

Ecuadorean police officers fuard the arrested suspects outside Ecuador's TC television channel after unidentified gunmen burst into the state-owned television studio live on air on January 9, 2024, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, a day after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency following the escape from prison of a dangerous narco boss. - Sputnik Africa
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Ecuadorean police officers fuard the arrested suspects outside Ecuador's TC television channel after unidentified gunmen burst into the state-owned television studio live on air on January 9, 2024, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, a day after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency following the escape from prison of a dangerous narco boss.

© AFP 2024 Marcos Pin

An Ecuadorean sniper takes position outside the premises of Ecuador's TC television channel after unidentified gunmen burst into the state-owned television studio live on air on January 9, 2024, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, a day after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency following the escape from prison of a dangerous narco boss.

An Ecuadorean sniper takes position outside the premises of Ecuador's TC television channel after unidentified gunmen burst into the state-owned television studio live on air on January 9, 2024, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, a day after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency following the escape from prison of a dangerous narco boss. - Sputnik Africa
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An Ecuadorean sniper takes position outside the premises of Ecuador's TC television channel after unidentified gunmen burst into the state-owned television studio live on air on January 9, 2024, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, a day after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency following the escape from prison of a dangerous narco boss.

© AP Photo / Cesar Munoz

Police evacuate staff from the TC public television station after a group of armed men broke onto their set during a live broadcast, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024.

Police evacuate staff from the TC public television station after a group of armed men broke onto their set during a live broadcast, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. - Sputnik Africa
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Police evacuate staff from the TC public television station after a group of armed men broke onto their set during a live broadcast, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024.

© AFP 2024 Rodrigo Buendia

Ecuadorean security forces patrol the area around the main square and presidential palace after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared the country in a state of "internal armed conflict" and ordered the army to carry out military operations against the country's powerful drug gangs, in downtown Quito on January 9, 2024.

Ecuadorean security forces patrol the area around the main square and presidential palace after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared the country in a state of "internal armed conflict" and ordered the army to carry out military operations against the country's powerful drug gangs, in downtown Quito on January 9, 2024. - Sputnik Africa
10/10

Ecuadorean security forces patrol the area around the main square and presidential palace after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared the country in a state of "internal armed conflict" and ordered the army to carry out military operations against the country's powerful drug gangs, in downtown Quito on January 9, 2024.

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