Ecuador's new law regulating complementary military support to the National Police entered into force on Tuesday after publication in the Official Registry.
The Organic Law Regulating the Complementary and Subsidiary Support of the Armed Forces to the National Police was published in Sixth Supplement No. 359 of the Official Registry on September 1. The National Assembly of Ecuador approved the legislation in its second debate on August 25, 2026.
Under the approved framework, operational cooperation between the two public order institutions must be exceptional, temporary, duly justified, and subject to institutional oversight. The law allows military deployment to assist police without requiring a prior declaration of a state of emergency.
The statute comprises 20 articles and nine provisions. It explicitly establishes that military intervention will not replace the core functions of the National Police or allow military personnel to take on permanent public security duties.
The Official Registry is Ecuador's official legal gazette, where enacted statutes must be published to become legally binding across the country. The National Police handle civilian law enforcement, while the Armed Forces operate under the Ministry of National Defense.
Constitutional reform and referendum approval
The new legislation develops a partial constitutional reform to Article 158 of Ecuador's constitution. Voters backed the reform during a national referendum held on April 21, 2024, with 72.24 percent of electors voting in favor of military support.
The constitutional amendment allows the armed forces to assist police in combating organized crime and addressing grave internal disturbances within the state prison system without resorting to a state of emergency. The referendum included a transitional provision granting the National Assembly a 200-day deadline to pass enabling legislation setting formal and material parameters for the cooperation.
Article 158 of the 2008 Ecuadorian Constitution originally limited the role of the armed forces to defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity, while public safety was assigned exclusively to police. The reform reflects efforts to address growing security challenges and violent incidents inside state penitentiaries.
Legislative vote and operational conditions
The bill passed the National Assembly with 83 votes in favor, drawn from the governing National Democratic Action (ADN) party, the Social Christian Party (PSC), and independent legislators. Opposing the measure were 63 lawmakers from Revolución Ciudadana, while three deputies from Pachakutik abstained.
The National Assembly is Ecuador's unicameral parliament located in the capital, Quito. ADN is the ruling political movement led by President Daniel Noboa, PSC is a long-standing conservative party, Revolución Ciudadana is the main opposition party aligned with former president Rafael Correa, and Pachakutik represents indigenous interests.
The law establishes that military support may be deployed for an initial maximum period of 180 days. If the underlying security conditions prompting the measure persist, authorities may request a single extension of up to 30 additional days.
To obtain an extension, the general commander of the National Police must submit a formal request at least 10 days before the initial 180-day period expires. The law also permits the military support to end early if the circumstances that motivated it cease to exist.
The legal framework regulates cooperation without altering the specific competencies or chains of command of either institution. It also includes provisions governing joint coordination, human rights training, legal responsibilities, and mechanisms for democratic control over military operations.
