Azuay Is Under a 60-Day State of Exception, But There Is No Curfew

Azuay is back under a state of exception, and this time the justification is security.

President Daniel Noboa declared a state of exception on June 16, 2026 in ten provinces, including Azuay. The measure is set to last 60 days.

For people living in Cuenca, the first practical point is this: there is no curfew in Azuay.

What Changes

The decree suspends the rights to inviolability of domicile and correspondence in the province and allows the Armed Forces to work with the National Police.

That does not mean daily life suddenly stops. It does mean police and military personnel can carry out immediate searches when there are objective and reasonable indications that organized-crime groups, munitions, explosives or controlled substances are being hidden inside a property.

Why Azuay Was Included

The government's justification cites several factors for Azuay: violence, risk level, illegal mining, persistent threat and the number of emergencies.

A reserved intelligence report says Azuay registered 15 violent deaths in 2026, including 14 in Cuenca and one in Camilo Ponce Enriquez. Another set of reports places Azuay at elevated risk for trafficking of arms, munitions, explosives and accessories, with 22 relevant events registered between May 1 and June 12, 2026.

Illegal mining is also part of the picture, especially around Camilo Ponce Enriquez.

The Numbers Behind The Decision

Nationally, between May 1 and June 12, 2026, homicides increased 6.8%, from 322 to 344 cases.

The National Police reported that 93.9% of the violence was concentrated in the provinces covered by the new state of exception: Guayas, El Oro, Los Rios, Manabi, Esmeraldas, Pichincha, Santo Domingo, Santa Elena, Sucumbios and Azuay.

For Azuay specifically, the province accounted for 0.4% of national violent deaths in that May-June window, equal to 8 killings, while the year-to-date figure reaches 15.

The province also accounted for 17% of national emergencies related to possession, consumption and commercialization of controlled substances.

What Expats Should Do

No curfew means normal movement is still allowed, but this is a good moment to keep things boring and organized:

• Carry ID when moving around town

• Avoid filming police or military operations up close

• Expect more controls on roads and in high-risk areas

• Keep property documents and lease details easy to find

• If you live outside central Cuenca, pay attention to local security updates

This is not a reason to panic. It is a reason to understand what powers are now active and where Azuay fits inside the national security response.