Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa on Tuesday implemented a 60-day state of emergency in an attempt to quell massive protests that broke out following his surprise removal of a diesel subsidy last week.
The decree was issued across seven of the nation’s two dozen provinces following “severe internal disturbance” and mobilized armed forces and national police.
The U.S. embassy in Ecuador said in a statement that the forces were mobilized in order to “to prevent the interruption of public services and maintain freedom of movement for the general population.”
Demonstrators clash with police during a rally protesting President Daniel Noboa’s policies in Quito, Ecuador, on Sept. 11, 2025. (Rodrigo Buendia/AFP via Getty Images)
“For decades, the diesel subsidy represented a $1.1 billion burden on fiscal accounts, without truly reaching those who needed it,” the government said on X.
The decree drove up the price of diesel overnight from $1.80 a gallon to $2.80 – ending a decades-old subsidy in a move previously attempted but publicly opposed during prior administrations.
The government has argued the subsidy was not being adequately distributed and disproportionately benefited higher-income individuals and business sectors more than it was aiding vulnerable populations.
Noboa’s administration said it will use funds saved from the subsidy removal and allocate $220 million towards the transportation sector to prevent fare increases in public transportation.
Police officers stand in formation during a rally against President Daniel Noboa’s policies in Quito, Ecuador, on Sept. 11, 2025. (Rodrigo Buendia/AFP via Getty Images)
But Ecuadorians remain concerned that it will directly impact the pockets of the nation’s poorest.
A price stabilization mechanism will be implemented on Dec. 11, reported Reuters, in a move to protect consumers from global price swings, though details on the plan remain unclear.
