Ecuador's Noboa vows to reduce murders, boost economy at inauguration

During his 18 months in office, Noboa declared war on criminal groups, using decrees to deploy the military on the streets, beefing up security at ports and lengthening sentences for drug crimes and terrorism. Though Noboa has touted a 15% reduction in violent deaths during 2024, the first four months of 2025 saw a 58% spike in the figure, to 3,094, compared to the same period last year, according to government figures. Noboa will need to seek financing, analysts say, amid a public debt burden of 51.8% of GDP, high country risk that makes bond issues difficult and a fall in oil production, one of the country's top exports.