Ecuador's government, led by President Daniel Noboa, decreed a state of exception and a curfew on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, two measures that are related but differ in scope, according to the decree.
Executive Decree 498 sets out the terms for both measures, which will be carried out by the ministries of Defense and the Interior, the National Police and the Armed Forces, working with other competent institutions.
State of exception: 60 days
The state of exception runs for 60 days in the provinces of El Oro, Esmeraldas, Guayas, Los Rios, Manabi, Pichincha, Santa Elena and Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas. It also covers three cantons: Camilo Ponce Enriquez in Azuay province, Las Naves in Bolivar province, and La Mana in Cotopaxi province.
In these areas, the decree suspends the rights to the inviolability of the home and of correspondence. It also authorizes the use of the Armed Forces, working alongside the National Police, to restore and maintain public order, strengthen internal protection and confront criminal and violent activity.
The measure additionally allows for the temporary requisition of lawfully owned goods and services considered strictly necessary for security operations.
Curfew: 14 days
The curfew is a narrower measure restricting people's movement. Unlike the state of exception, it does not apply to every affected area. Decree 498 limits it to just four provinces: El Oro, Guayas, Los Rios and Manabi.
The curfew is set to begin on September 17 and remain in force until September 30, 2026, applying every night between midnight and 5 a.m.
During those five hours, movement will be restricted, though the decree sets out exceptions for certain activities and services. These include staff from health facilities within the Comprehensive Public Health Network and the Complementary Private Network, as well as security forces, complementary security entities, and risk, emergency and disaster management services.
Who is Daniel Noboa
Noboa has served as Ecuador's president since taking office in 2023 and was re-elected in 2025. His government has repeatedly turned to states of exception as a tool to deploy the military alongside police against organized crime and violence in the country.
Enforcement of both the state of exception and the curfew will remain the responsibility of the Defense and Interior ministries together with the National Police and the Armed Forces, the decree states.
