Ecuador is currently under a state of maximum alert due to a disturbing assassination plot targeting President Daniel Noboa, following his recent re-election. This alarming situation has prompted the Ministry of Government to issue a statement titled The Revenge of the Bad Losers, indicating that all security measures have been activated in response to threats believed to originate from criminal organizations, allegedly in league with political adversaries who were defeated in the recent elections.

President Noboa, who was re-elected earlier this month, campaigned on a platform that emphasized a vigorous crackdown on the rampant cartel violence that has been terrorizing Ecuador. His main opponent, Luisa Gonzalez, continues to assert that the electoral process was marred by fraud, claiming that the vote was not legitimate.

The governments announcement follows the leaking of a military intelligence report earlier this week, which indicated that assassins allegedly entering Ecuador from Mexico and other countries were plotting to execute terrorist attacks against Noboa. In this context, the Ministry's statement draws attention to the involvement of bad losers from the April 13 election, who have purportedly hired sicarios, or hitmen, from Mexico and other regions to destabilize the government.

The statement explicitly confirmed, The state is on high alert. All security protocols have been activated, and collaboration among the Armed Forces, the National Police, and intelligence agencies is underway. It references intelligence reports about plans for potential assassination attempts, acts of terrorism, and violent protests aimed at inciting chaos within the country.

While specific names were not disclosed in the statement, it appears to point fingers at the Citizen Revolution Movement (RC5), led by Gonzalez, which has ties to former President Rafael Correa. Media outlets in Ecuador have also reported suggestions of possible support for these plots from foreign leaders, notably President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico.

The backdrop of this diplomatic tension is significant. Sheinbaum announced on Wednesday that Mexico would refrain from restoring diplomatic relations with Ecuador as long as Noboa remains in power, having publicly supported Gonzalez during the election campaign.

This attempted assassination comes at a time when Ecuador is grappling with a spike in violence linked to organized crime, particularly from criminal gangs involved in drug trafficking from neighboring countries such as Peru and Colombia. A recent incident highlighted this grim reality, where at least 12 individuals were killed in a shocking attack in the coastal province of Manabi, when gunmen disguised in military uniforms opened fire on a crowd attending a cockfight.

Noboa has aggressively labeled the situation as an internal armed conflict to combat the pervasive influence of drug trafficking gangs, a response that reflects the countrys ongoing battle with organized crime. He has also made commitments to bolster Ecuadors struggling economy, a promise viewed as pivotal in securing his re-election earlier this month.

However, Gonzalez, who had advanced to the runoff following a closely contested first round in February, has maintained her stance of grotesque electoral fraud and announced late Wednesday her intent to challenge the election results with the electoral authority.