Human rights groups condemn deadly massacre at Ecuador prison
Human rights and civil society organisations in Ecuador have denounced what they call a “permanent and progressive prison massacre” in the El Oro penitentiary, where dozens of inmates were recently found dead.
The alarming declaration came in response to a violent riot in the Machala prison, which is raising fresh questions about prison conditions and gang control.
According to official reports, 27 inmates were found hanged in their cells, apparently asphyxiated in one of the most chilling episodes of prison violence in the country. The prison oversight body (SNAI) stated that the deaths are being thoroughly investigated. Earlier that day, four prisoners died and more than 40 were injured during a riot, in an incident attributed to the reorganisation of inmates.
Analysts point to a broader pattern of instability in Ecuador’s detention system. Since 2021, more than 500 inmates have died in comparable clashes, often linked to gang rivalries and systemic overcrowding in prisons. The El Oro facility is reported to be overfilled, and internal power struggles among criminal organisations such as Los Lobos and Sao Box continue to drive violence.
The social organisations demanding accountability are calling for an immediate declaration of a national prison emergency, warning that without urgent intervention, such episodes will continue to put inmates’ fundamental rights at risk.
The massacre has not only fuelled domestic criticism but also attracted international attention. Observers warn that the crisis highlights serious governance failures and underscores the need for Ecuador to cooperate with global partners to reform its penal system.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
