Now Reading: Ecuador bids farewell to its 11 soldiers killed
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Ecuador bids farewell to its 11 soldiers killed
With deep sorrow and in an atmosphere of national consternation, Ecuador bid farewell this weekend to the 11 soldiers brutally murdered by the Colombian armed group "Comandos de la Frontera" in the Amazon region. During the emotional ceremony in Quito, the coffins, wrapped in the tricolor flag, were arranged for a mass in honor of the fallen, while relatives and comrades-in-arms embraced each other in tears.
The Minister of Defense of Ecuador, Gian Carlo Loffredo, described the attack as "an attack against the 18 million Ecuadorians" and recalled that "this fact is undoubtedly a reminder to all of us that we are at war". These statements, disseminated by the Ministry of Defense through the social network X, reflect the seriousness of the security crisis the country is going through.
This attack was against 18 million Ecuadorians!
- Ministry of National Defense of Ecuador (@DefensaEc) May 11, 2025
📌 The Minister of Defense, Gian Carlo Loffredo, stressed in his words, during the wake of the 11 military men who lost their lives: "This fact is certainly a reminder to all of us that we are at war. To the... pic.twitter.com/ioOQgTgp27
A Border Marked by Violence and Drug Trafficking
The Colombian-Ecuadorian border has become a critical scenario of conflict. Following the peace agreement signed in 2016, several sectors of the former FARC guerrillas rejected the demobilization process, maintaining their illicit activities, such as drug trafficking and illegal mining, now also extended into Ecuadorian territory.
On May 9, in the area of Alto Punino, in northeastern Ecuador, a group of 80 soldiers were carrying out operations against illegal mining when they were ambushed by men armed with explosives, grenades and rifles. The ambush left 11 soldiers dead, marking one of the bloodiest episodes in the recent history of Ecuadorian security.
Ecuador, historically considered an oasis of peace in a troubled region, has seen crime rates skyrocket in recent years. In 2025 alone, the country recorded one murder per hour, the highest figure in Latin America, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
Transnational Crime and the Persistent Threat
Analysts say that Colombian criminal organizations, which refused to demobilize after the peace agreement, have moved part of their operations to Ecuador, taking advantage of its strategic location for illicit drug trafficking. Various groups linked to Colombian and Mexican cartels operate in the Ecuadorian Amazon region, further aggravating the insecurity situation.
Meanwhile, "Comandos de la Frontera", the group responsible for the attack, is holding peace talks with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who has made resolving the armed conflict a priority of his term in office. However, little progress has been made and violence figures remain alarming.
It is worth remembering that Andres Rojas, alias "Araña," the leader of this dissident group, was captured in February. Although peace negotiations continue, a US court has requested his extradition to face drug trafficking charges, according to Colombian authorities.
