Ecuadorian President announces state of emergency over energy crisis

Due to a massive energy crisis in Ecuador, its President Daniel Noboa has announced a two-month state of emergency in the country.
 
Expreso news agency quoted Noboa’s decree as saying that the state of emergency would be declared “in connection with serious domestic unrest and public disasters throughout the country, which were caused by the emergency situation in the electric energy sector, in order to secure continuous energy services.”

During the state of emergency which will be in force for two months, Ecuadorian police and armed forces will be dispatched to protect the energy infrastructure to stop potential sabotages and terrorist acts, the decree added.

Ecuador is going through a major energy crisis caused by the shutdown of hydroelectric plants at the desiccated reservoirs, which are its main power generators.

The country’s government filed a complaint on April 17 with the prosecutor’s office against 22 senior officials of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, one of whom is former Minister Andrea Arrobo, who allegedly purposely withheld information essential to the functioning of the country’s energy system. 

This comes amid recent tensions between Ecuador and Mexico following a raid on the Mexican embassy raid in Quito earlier this month. 

Read more: Mexico suspends diplomatic ties with Ecuador after embassy breach

Mexico to take Ecuador to the ICJ

Mexico plans to pursue legal action against Ecuador at the International Court of Justice in response to the embassy raid in Quito, according to the Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena on April 8.

Barcena announced, during an event welcoming Mexican diplomats who left Ecuador on April 7, “Starting tomorrow we are going to the ICJ where we are presenting this sad case,” adding, “We believe that we can win this case quickly.”

Spain and the European Union, alongside the United Nations chief and nations from Latin America, joined in condemning Quito for the embassy raid.