Ecuadors President Noboa vows to extradite criminals during State of the Union address

Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa Delivers State of the Union Address, Highlighting Crime-Fighting Efforts and Economic Progress

In a speech to the National Assembly in Quito on Sunday, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa outlined his administration’s efforts to combat organized crime and promote economic growth. The president cited the extradition of 12 individuals suspected of involvement in international crime syndicates and the seizure of approximately 300 tonnes of illicit drugs as examples of his government’s effectiveness.

Noboa also emphasized the importance of addressing public safety concerns, stating that “families living in fear” cannot develop. He acknowledged that organized crime has been a major issue in Ecuador this decade, particularly following a spike in homicides during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The president’s approach to combating crime has been met with criticism from civil society groups, who argue that his methods have not reduced crime and have instead put civilians at risk. Glaedys Gonzalez, an analyst for the Andean region at the International Crisis Group, noted that “progress on violence is far from being achieved” in Ecuador.

In addition to discussing crime-fighting efforts, Noboa also highlighted economic progress made by his administration. He reported a decrease in poverty rates, with 26 percent of the population falling below the poverty line in 2023 and 21.4 percent in 2025. Extreme poverty rates also declined, from 10.4 percent to 8.4 percent over the same period.

Noboa’s re-election last year was marked by a state of exception that allowed the military to implement various crime-fighting strategies, including joint patrols with police officers and property searches without warrants. The president’s administration has also collaborated with US forces on several occasions, including an operation against a suspected Colombian drug trafficking training camp earlier this year.

The full details of Noboa’s State of the Union address will be available in the coming days as official transcripts are released.

Source: Al Jazeera