Politician Assassinated While Filming Video About Roads

A female politician, an Ecuadorian councilwoman was killed in broad daylight in front of a throng, within moments after finishing a meeting.

Diana Carnero, 29, was chairing a council meeting in Naranjal, Guayas, on Wednesday afternoon, February 7, when she was attacked while filming a video about the poor road conditions.

Two male suspects approached her on a motorbike, shot her in the head and fled, according to authorities.

The Ecuadorian Attorney General’s Office announced that it will lead the investigation, but no arrests have been made thus far.

Ecuador is experiencing a crime wave linked to drug trafficking groups.

Only last year, a presidential candidate was slain in Ecuador. Several other Ecuadorian politicians have lately been executed.

President Daniel Noboa declared an emergency and a virtual war on the gangs two weeks ago, directing the military to take action against them. Many people are staying at home, and schools and businesses have closed while the military patrols the streets of Ecuador’s major cities.

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Carnero was elected to the Naranjal city council in February 2023 as a candidate for the Citizen Revolution Movement, a democratic socialist political party founded by supporters of former President Rafael Correa. Correa, who was president from 2007 to 2017, paid tribute to Carnero on the social media network X, which was previously known as Twitter.

He wrote: “Diana was 29 years old. This is a nightmare. A hug to her family and all of Naranjal. When you have children of that age, you understand what their parents must be suffering. They cut short the life of a promise for Naranjal and the Homeland. What a disgrace!”

Guayaquil deputy mayor Blanca López also wrote on X, saying: “This must end, wanting better days for our cantons, provinces and country cannot mean putting our lives at risk.”

Carnero’s assassination occurred just one day after Guayas Governor Alberto Molina met with law authorities in Naranjal to discuss the current outbreak of violence.

On October 24, 2023, Councilman Charbel Rouhana, 50, was fatally shot in front of his home in Yaguachi, a seaside hamlet. Bolivar Vera, a 42-year-old Durán councilman, was discovered dead on September 8, a day after being abducted. Presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, 59, was slain in August after leaving a campaign event in Quito. In July, the mayor of Manta, Agustín Intriago, 38, was shot while reviewing works.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli