From DW Documentary.

On December 8, 2024, 16 military personnel from the Ecuadorian Air Force stopped a group of ten Afro-Ecuadorian minors as they were leaving a soccer field. Most of the boys dispersed and ran away, except for Ismael, Josué, Nehemías and Steven. They came from the Las Malvinas neighborhood, one of the most vulnerable sectors of Guayaquil. This was the last time they were seen alive.

For over a year since the now re-elected President Daniel Noboa declared an "internal armed conflict" in January 2024, the military has been patrolling streets and public areas. According to officials, the goal is to curb escalating violence linked to criminal groups involved in drug trafficking and connected to powerful cartels from Colombia and Mexico.

President Noboa has also declared several "states of exception," authorizing joint police and the military operations across various cities. However, some civil society organizations say these measures have resulted in human rights violations in Ecuador.

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