Explicadores

Wind Power in Ecuador: Villonaco III and What Comes Next

From Ecuador’s first island turbines and Villonaco I to the construction of Villonaco III: where the projects are, how they work, and what could come next.

Nueva Ley de Tránsito de Ecuador: scooters y motocicletas eléctricas, explicado

El 3 de septiembre de 2026, la Asamblea Nacional del Ecuador aprobó una importante reforma a la <strong>Ley Orgánica de Transporte Terrestre, Tránsito y Seguridad Vial</strong>. La reforma incluye nuevas reglas para motocicletas eléctricas, scooters y otros vehículos de micromovilidad.

José Serrano and the Magnicidio FV Case August 29

The return of former interior minister José Serrano to Ecuador has renewed attention on the unresolved question behind one of the country’s most consequential political crimes: Who ordered the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio?

Serie: Criminal cases · Parte 1

USS San Antonio in Manta: Aug 25

The arrival of the USS San Antonio at the Port of Manta has attracted attention across Ecuador, particularly because it coincides with an updated United States travel advisory urging Americans to reconsider travel to Manabí.

Understanding Ecuador’s “Triple A” Case August 24

The Triple A case is a criminal prosecution concerning the alleged diversion and illegal sale of Ecuador’s subsidized fuel. It involves Aquiles Álvarez, the mayor of Guayaquil; other individuals; and six companies, several connected with Álvarez’s family and its fuel-distribution businesses.

Serie: Ecuador Legal System · Parte 6

Understanding Ecuador’s “Goleada” Case August 24

The Goleada case is a major money-laundering investigation involving Aquiles Álvarez, the mayor of Guayaquil; members of his family; and several companies connected with their fuel-distribution businesses.

Serie: Ecuador Legal System · Parte 5

Who was Michele Sensi-Contugi

Michele Sensi-Contugi Ycaza was an Italian-Ecuadorian businessman, senior government official and one of President Daniel Noboa’s closest political allies. He was 44 when he and his wife, Ecuadorian fashion designer Stephany Hollihan, died in a tourist-helicopter crash in northern Kenya on August 19, 2026.

How does someone become an election candidate in Ecuador?

In Ecuador, announcing a campaign does not make someone an official candidate. The person must first be chosen and sponsored by a registered political organization, then complete a formal review by the electoral authorities. A candidacy becomes official only when the approving resolution is final.

Serie: Understanding Ecuador's government · Parte 1

Modern Piracy on the Ecuador coast

Modern piracy on Ecuador’s Pacific coast has little in common with the pirates of popular culture. It usually involves armed men in fast fibreglass boats attacking artisanal fishermen to steal their motors, fuel, equipment, catch—or the entire boat.

Serie: Piracy On the Ecuadorian coast · Parte 4

The Virgen de EL Cisne

The Virgen de El Cisne is a centuries-old Marian image kept in a rural sanctuary near Loja. Every August, devotees carry her approximately 70–75 kilometres to the city, where she remains until around November 1. The pilgrimage began as a rural religious devotion, was linked by Simón Bolívar’s 1829 decree to the Feria de Loja, and today serves simultaneously as an act of faith, a major economic and civic event, a connection to Loja’s rural heritage and a symbol of home for Lojanos living around the world.

Luisa González Candidate for Manabi

Luisa González is in the news because she wants to run for prefect of Manabí under Pachakutik, but an electoral report says she has not belonged to Pachakutik for the two years required by the movement’s own rules. The recommendation could block her candidacy, but no final decision has been made.

Serie: Ecuador-politics · Parte 5

What is the Caso Progen?

Caso Progen is a major Ecuador public-contracting scandal involving emergency electricity contracts signed during the 2024 power crisis.

What is Amawtay Wasi, and why is it in the news?

Amawtay Wasi is Ecuador’s public intercultural university for Indigenous nationalities and peoples. Its full name is Universidad Intercultural de las Nacionalidades y Pueblos Indígenas Amawtay Wasi. In Kichwa, “Amawtay Wasi” is commonly understood as a “house of wisdom” or a place of knowledge.

El Niño Is Here: What It Could Mean for Ecuador in 2026–27

El Niño is active and strengthening. A practical guide to what the 2026–27 event could mean for Ecuador’s coast, mountains, roads, health and daily life—and how to prepare.

Serie: Weather in Ecuador · Parte 3

Explainer: What Palantir is

Palantir Technologies is a U.S. software company that builds platforms for data integration, analysis, AI-assisted decision-making, and operational coordination. Its best-known government platform is Gotham, used in defense, intelligence, policing, and public-sector operations. Its broader enterprise platform, Foundry, is used to connect data across organizations, and its newer AIP — Artificial Intelligence Platform…

Explainer: What was the SUCRE regional payment system, and why does Ecuador want to leave it?

The SUCRE was not the old Ecuadorian sucre currency. It was the Sistema Unitario de Compensación Regional de Pagos — a regional payment-clearing system created within the ALBA-TCP bloc to settle trade among member countries without using U.S. dollars directly in every transaction. Ecuador joined during the government of Rafael Correa, when regional integration with countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, and Nic…

Primary Political Forces in Ecuador (2026)

To understand Ecuador's political landscape in 2026, it’s helpful to view it as a battle between established traditional movements and a new, dominant "Noboa-ist" center-right. The following table breaks down the key players currently shaping the National Assembly and the executive branch. Primary Political Forces in Ecuador (2026) Party / MovementKey LeaderPolitical SpectrumPower & PopularityAcción Democrática Naci…

Country Risk... What is this number

Think of Country Risk (often called "Sovereign Risk") as a credit score for an entire nation. Just as a bank checks your credit score to decide if they should lend you money for a car—and at what interest rate—global investors use this number to judge how likely a country is to pay back its debts. In Ecuador, you will often hear this number referred to in "points" or "basis points." Here is a breakdown of what that…

Ecuador, Colombia relationship April 2026

The relationship between Ecuador and Colombia has reached a critical historical low in April 2026. This friction is not just about a single event, but a deep ideological and personal clash between two leaders who represent opposite ends of the political spectrum. 1. The Present Situation: The Breaking Point As of April 8–9, 2026, Ecuador has officially recalled its ambassador, Arturo Félix Wong, from Bogotá. The imm…

Coca Codo Sinclair (CCS)April 2026

The Coca Codo Sinclair (CCS) hydroelectric plant, built by the Chinese firm Sinohydro, is Ecuador's largest infrastructure project and arguably its most controversial. As of April 2026, the project has reached a critical legal and technical crossroads. 🏗️ The Infrastructure at a Glance Located between the Napo and Sucumbíos provinces, the dam was designed to generate 1,500 MW, theoretically covering 30% of Ecuador's…