Ecuador is facing a crisis of violence and crime.
In a shocking incident, Fernando Villavicencio, a candidate in the upcoming presidential election, was shot dead during an event in Quito.
The current president Guillermo Lasso has expressed his outrage at this act of violence and has promised that those responsible will not go unpunished.
This tragedy is part of a larger problem of escalating criminal activity in the country – spurred by drug cartels – and points to an urgent need for action.
Fernando Villavicencio had been a member of the national assembly before running for president.
He was attacked after attending an event in Quito when he was about to get into his car.
A gunman fired shots at him, hitting him directly in the head and killing him instantly.
This senseless act of brutality has caused shockwaves throughout Ecuador’s political scene with many expressing their condolences to his family and friends as well as their disgust at such an egregious violation of human life.
This is unfortunately not an isolated incident.
In fact, there have been several other cases recently where elected officials were killed due to drug-related violence or threats from drug cartels in Ecuador.
Last week Mr Villavicencio himself stated that he had received threats from gang leaders linked to drug trafficking – highlighting how widespread these issues are becoming across the country.
As election day approaches, it is vital that action be taken to protect both citizens and elected officials alike from this growing threat posed by organized crime groups operating within Ecuador’s borders.
