Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa emerged unscathed after his motorcade came under attack on October 7, with authorities detaining five individuals on charges of terrorism and attempted assassination as nationwide indigenous protests entered their 16th day.

Environment and Energy Minister Inés Manzano lodged a formal complaint with the Attorney General's Office following the incident in Tambo canton, Cañar province, where approximately 500 demonstrators reportedly pelted the presidential convoy with stones as it travelled to a stadium for a public announcement.

"Before approaching the stadium, 500 people appeared and were throwing stones, and there are obviously bullet holes in the president's car," Manzano told reporters.

The minister praised the president's response to the attack, saying: "Thank God, our president, very firm and courageous, is moving forward, carrying out his agenda as normal."

Images released by the presidency showed vehicles with smashed windows and badly cracked windscreens. Defence Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo shared a photograph of the conservative leader standing beside the damaged vehicle, declaring: "Nothing stops this president, which is the best sign that the country won't be stopped either."

Speaking at a student event in Cuenca, approximately 77 kilometres south of the attack site, Noboa vowed his government would take a firm stance against such actions.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), which has overseen the nationwide strike action, presented a starkly different narrative. The organisation alleged that orchestrated violence had erupted against peaceful demonstrators, describing a "brutal police and military action" that left elderly women amongst those targeted.

"At least five of us have been arbitrarily detained," CONAIE stated on social media, sharing footage of a woman being escorted away by four body-armoured police officers with their faces obscured by black bandanas, as reported by Reuters.

CONAIE President Marlo Vargas rejected government accusations of terrorism, clarifying on social media that the protests aimed to highlight "years of neglect, poverty, and inequality" rather than attack cities. "We don't want any more people disappeared or murdered for demanding dignity. We demand the repeal of Decree 126 (which eliminated the diesel subsidy) and the return of the VAT to 12%," Vargas wrote.

The demonstrations stem from Noboa's mid-September executive decree eliminating diesel subsidies, a measure the government maintains will liberate approximately $1.1bn annually. Officials contend these funds, previously exploited by organised crime, are now being redirected as compensation to small-scale farmers and transport workers.

However, CONAIE and critics argue the policy will disproportionately burden indigenous communities and small-scale farmers through increased living costs, whilst also protesting a rise in value-added tax from 12 to 15%.

Government Minister Zaida Rovira ruled out negotiations on either issue during a television interview. "We do not accept putting the issue of VAT—which went from 12 to 15%—on the table for discussion, nor do we accept the measure taken to eliminate the diesel subsidy," she said, adding that the executive had already provided "all the incentives and focused them on sectors that could be harmed."

Rovira dismissed suggestions of a potential "takeover of Quito" by protesters. "We will not back down on allowing the country to burn; we will be very firm in that regard, engaging in dialogue with all those who want to talk, but with those who want to continue sowing chaos and terror, we will be very firm," the minister said.

Noboa, who secured re-election in April on a promise to continue his crackdown on drug gangs, has repeatedly deployed emergency powers to armed forces and police as part of his hardline security approach. Following the latest incident, his government declared emergency measures across several provinces to maintain order.

The presidency stated that despite the attack, "the destabilisers were unable to stop the National Government," adding that "all those detained will be prosecuted for terrorism and attempted murder."

As the protests entered their third week, indigenous communities in the Amazon joined the national strike, bearing flags, banners and spears—symbols of their cultural heritage—calling for the repeal of Decree 126.

A separate demonstration in Quito on October 7 evening saw approximately 200 people take to the streets before police intervention caused the crowd to disperse peacefully.