Ecuadorian leader Daniel Noboa has declared a two-month state of emergency due to a major crisis in the country's energy system.
„A state of emergency is declared due to serious internal unrest and public disaster throughout the country caused by an emergency in the power sector, guaranteeing the continuity of public power services,” said the presidential decree, excerpts of which were published by a newspaper "Expresso".
The emergency decree, which will be in effect for 60 days, orders the mobilization of police and military forces to ensure the security of critical energy infrastructure "to prevent sabotage, terrorist attacks and other threats." A national energy crisis, mainly related to the shutdown of hydroelectric plants due to drought, is reflected in regular power outages for consumers throughout Ecuador for a period of up to 8 hours.
The situation has been worsened by the suspension of electricity supplies from neighboring Colombia, which is also experiencing a severe drought and has no surplus to export.
On April 17, the government of Ecuador filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office against 22 high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Energy and Mines, including former minister Andrea Arrobo, who allegedly deliberately withheld information important to the operation of this system, and has delayed decision-making.