Ecuador President Daniel Noboa Survives Alleged Assassination Attempt Amid Fuel Subsidy Protests

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa emerged unscathed after his motorcade came under attack from demonstrators.

According to a senior cabinet official, Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa's vehicle was encircled by approximately 500 individuals hurling rocks as he approached an event in Cañar province. The minister added that "signs of bullet damage" were discovered on the presidential vehicle.

Environment and Energy Minister Ines Manzano made these statements on Tuesday after officially reporting an assassination attempt against Noboa. The president remained uninjured, and five individuals have been detained, the minister confirmed.

"Firing at the president's vehicle, throwing stones, damaging state property - these are clearly criminal acts," Manzano stated. "We will not tolerate this."

The president's office announced that all detainees would face charges of terrorism and attempted assassination.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm whether gunshots had been fired.

The national Indigenous federation CONAIE claimed that orchestrated violence had erupted against people who had gathered for Noboa's arrival, stating that elderly women were among those targeted in a "brutal police and military operation."

"At least five of our members have been arbitrarily detained," the federation stated in a post on X, accompanied by footage showing a woman in traditional attire being escorted away by four police officers in tactical gear with their faces concealed by black bandanas.

CONAIE initiated strike action 16 days ago, organizing marches and road blockades to protest the government's decision to eliminate diesel subsidies. Critics argue that further discussion is necessary and that the policy will increase living costs, particularly affecting small-scale farmers and Indigenous communities.

Noboa signed the executive order terminating subsidies in mid-September, and his administration declared emergency measures across several provinces to maintain order.

The government has defended the subsidy elimination, claiming it will free approximately $1.1 billion annually, which it has already begun redistributing as compensation to small-scale farmers and transportation sector workers.

Noboa, who won reelection in April, has frequently granted emergency powers to armed forces and law enforcement as part of his hardline approach to security challenges.

Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo shared an image of the 37-year-old Noboa standing outside the damaged vehicle wearing sunglasses.

"Nothing impedes this president, which is the strongest indication that the country won't be impeded either," he remarked.

A video recorded from inside a vehicle and released by the presidency showed people throwing rocks from the roadside and cracks on the vehicle's window. Another image published by the presidency displayed a car with shattered windows and a severely damaged windshield.