Ecuador's capital, Quito, became a battleground between rival protest groups on October 5 as a state of emergency took effect across 10 provinces, following two weeks of demonstrations against President Daniel Noboa's elimination of fuel subsidies.

Anti-government protesters, organised by Ecuador's largest Indigenous group, rallied against the removal of diesel subsidies that raised prices from $1.80 to $2.80 per gallon.

Police dispersed protesters with tear gas after some attempted to breach security cordons, AP reported, though no injuries or arrests were confirmed by the Ecuadorian police during the October 5 demonstrations.

The unrest follows a violent confrontation between police and Indigenous protesters the previous week that left one civilian dead and several injured. Nearly 100 people were detained, including 13 facing terrorism charges, while some military personnel were briefly held before release.

President Noboa has maintained a hardline stance, declaring a 60-day state of emergency, citing "serious internal unrest," as noted by El Universo. He also submitted emergency legislation to strengthen the Armed Forces and National Police through tax incentives and donations.

Under the decree, the right to assemble is suspended, and public gatherings are banned if they could disrupt essential services or threaten public safety. The armed forces and national police are authorised to deploy as needed to maintain order and prevent violence.

"Those who choose violence will face the law. Those who act like criminals will be treated as criminals," Noboa stated on X, confirming he would not reverse the subsidy cut.

Government Minister Zaida Rovira declared that Ecuador "has grown tired of violence," while Social Security Board president Edgar Lama dismissed protesters as "a minority that seeks to impose its will through violence," as quoted by AP.

This escalating conflict presents a critical test for Noboa's presidency as he attempts to advance Ecuador’s economic recovery. The fuel subsidy elimination, while potentially necessary for Ecuador's strained public finances, risks deepening social divisions and undermining Noboa's political capital after the conservative leader won re-election last April on a promise to continue his "war" against criminal drug gangs.

His uncompromising approach, which saw him militarise Ecuador's streets and float projects for El Salvador-style maximum security prisons, may deter future protests but could also galvanise broader opposition movements, particularly if economic conditions continue deteriorating for the country's working-class population.