Ofure Akhigbe
Authorities in Ecuador have detained five people following what officials described as an attempted assassination of President Daniel Noboa during ongoing nationwide protests.
The incident occurred on October 7, 2025, when about 500 demonstrators attacked the president’s convoy with rocks during a visit to an affected community. The country’s energy and environment minister confirmed there were “signs of bullet damage” on Noboa’s vehicle, though the president was unharmed.
A video shared by the president’s office shows protesters pelting cars with stones and what appear to be three small holes in a car window. The BBC, which received the footage, said it has not independently verified whether bullets were fired.
Noboa was travelling with senior diplomats from the United Nations, European Union, Italy and the Vatican to deliver aid to communities impacted by the ongoing national strike. Photos posted by the president showed shattered windscreens and windows on vehicles in his convoy.
The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie), which has led the protests, said “five of us have been arbitrarily detained.” Noboa’s office, however, announced that those arrested will be charged with terrorism and attempted assassination.
The unrest began more than two weeks ago, after the government ended long-standing diesel subsidies — a move officials say will save about $1.1 billion annually to support small-scale farmers and transport workers. Conaie, the country’s largest Indigenous organisation, declared a national strike in response, leading marches and roadblocks across the country.
At least one protester has been killed and several members of the armed forces injured, according to reports. Conaie has accused the government of excessive force and unlawful arrests, while authorities have condemned the group’s actions as “criminal.”
Conaie has a history of leading mass demonstrations that toppled three Ecuadorian presidents between 1997 and 2005.