Ecuador’s “Guayaquil Four”: Military Implicated in Teenagers’ Deaths, Spark National Outrage

Security Crackdown Under Scrutiny Ahead of Presidential Election

The tragic disappearance and confirmed deaths of four Black teenagers in Guayaquil, Ecuador—now known as the Guayaquil Four—have ignited a firestorm of protests and cast a harsh spotlight on President Daniel Noboa’s militarized security policies. The case, which began as a missing persons investigation, has transformed into a national scandal involving allegations of military brutality, human rights abuses, and an apparent government cover-up.

From Soccer Game to Tragedy

According to The Guardian, the four boys—Saúl Arboleda (15), Steven Medina (14), and brothers Josué Arroyo (13) and Ismael Arroyo (11)—left their homes in the Las Malvinas neighborhood of Guayaquil on December 8, 2024, to play soccer. They never returned.

As The Associated Press reported, surveillance footage from that evening shows two of the boys being apprehended by men in military uniforms, forced into a vehicle, and allegedly beaten. The Ecuadorian military initially denied involvement, claiming the boys had been detained on suspicion of robbing a woman. However, Ecuador’s public prosecutor later stated that there was no evidence to support this accusation (The Guardian).

The military also claimed that the boys had been released in Taura, a rural area 26 miles from their homes (Al Jazeera). However, their families never heard from them again. For nearly two weeks, the case stagnated until growing public outcry forced authorities to act. Then, on December 24, four charred bodies were found near the Taura air force base. According to Ecuador’s attorney general’s office, DNA tests confirmed on December 31 that the remains belonged to the missing boys (CBS News).

In response, sixteen soldiers were arrested and remain in custody while an investigation continues (Al Jazeera).

Security Crackdown vs. Human Rights Abuses

Ecuador, once considered one of Latin America’s safer countries, has seen a sharp rise in violent crime as drug cartels expand their operations. In response, President Noboa declared a state of “internal armed conflict” in January 2024, giving the military greater policing powers (BBC News Mundo). His tough-on-crime approach initially enjoyed public support, with an April 2024 referendum approving expanded security measures (CBS News).

However, human rights organizations argue that Noboa’s policies have led to excessive military force, with reports of enforced disappearances and abuses by security forces (VOA News). Billy Navarrete, executive director of Ecuador’s Permanent Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDH), told The Guardian that the Guayaquil Four case is the “straw that broke the camel’s back” after months of military-led human rights violations.

According to Al Jazeera, Ecuador’s opposition, activists, and the families of the victims are demanding the case be investigated as a forced disappearance, a crime under international human rights law. The case follows a pattern seen elsewhere in Latin America, where states of emergency have often resulted in widespread military abuses.

Political Fallout: Noboa’s Popularity at Risk

With Ecuador’s presidential election scheduled for February 9, 2025, this case has placed immense pressure on Noboa’s administration. According to CBS News, the president initially avoided addressing the state’s role but later declared the boys “national heroes” and promised “zero impunity.”

However, critics, including Noboa’s main opponent, Luisa González, argue that the government acted too slowly. The Associated Press reported that authorities had surveillance footage of the boys’ abduction within 24 hours, yet an official investigation into military involvement was not launched until 15 days later, after nationwide protests and media coverage.

González, a leftist candidate aligned with former President Rafael Correa, has framed the scandal as evidence of government incompetence and state-sanctioned violence (BBC News Mundo). With security concerns already dominating the election narrative, the Guayaquil Four case could shift voter sentiment, particularly among Ecuadorians wary of unchecked military power.

A Nation Demands Accountability

Across Ecuador, protests have erupted in major cities, including Quito and Guayaquil, as reported by Al Jazeera. Demonstrators have taken to the streets holding banners that read:

• “Black lives matter too”
• “They took them alive; we want them alive”

According to BBC News Mundo, the case has also exposed deep racial and class divides in Ecuador. Activists argue that the government’s response would have been swifter had the victims been from wealthier, whiter backgrounds, rather than from a poor, predominantly Black community in Guayaquil.

As the investigation proceeds, Ecuador faces a crucial question: Will the government hold the military accountable, or will this tragedy be buried under bureaucracy? According to The Guardian, Luis Arroyo, the father of two of the victims, has called for the soldiers to face trial in civilian courts rather than military tribunals.

For Noboa, the stakes are clear—justice for the Guayaquil Four could define his presidency, while inaction could cost him re-election.