The Indigenous and Peasant Movement of Cotopaxi (MICC) has issued a grave denunciation of an alleged assassination attempt against Leonidas Iza, former president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) and recent presidential candidate for Pachakutik. According to the MICC, agents from the General Directorate of Intelligence stormed the community of San Ignacio, sowing terror and targeting Iza’s life.

In a public statement, the MICC described the incident as part of a systematic campaign of persecution, intimidation, and defamation against Indigenous leadership. The movement directly holds President Daniel Noboa responsible for any harm that may come to Iza or other Indigenous leaders.

Iza, a prominent Kichwa-Panzaleo activist, recounted the incident during a press conference, stating that two individuals—allegedly police agents—had followed him in a taxi. “I stepped into the street to stop the vehicle. It accelerated toward me, and the driver halted, but the officers shouted at him to run me over,” he said.

The MICC has declared a permanent assembly, demanding accountability and denouncing what it calls state authoritarianism. The organization called on national and international actors to raise a “red alert” over the escalating threats to Indigenous leaders.

A History of Resistance

Leonidas Iza rose to national prominence during the 2019 protests against austerity measures and again in 2022, when he was controversially detained during a national strike. His leadership has consistently challenged conservative administrations, positioning him as a key figure in Ecuador’s Indigenous resistance.

In the 2025 presidential elections, Iza secured approximately 5% of the vote, a decisive margin that influenced the runoff outcome. He has since accused President Noboa of authoritarian tendencies and of repressing Indigenous movements.

Noboa’s Security Strategy Under Fire

Since taking office in November 2023, President Noboa has declared an “internal armed conflict”, enabling a militarized crackdown on crime and, critics argue, on civil society. Human rights groups report that this strategy has eroded constitutional protections and intensified repression against social movements.

Environmental and Indigenous organizations have also condemned Noboa’s decision to dismantle the Ministry of Environment, merging it with Energy and Mines—a move seen as paving the way for expanded extractivism. A recent oil deal with Peru has raised alarms about drilling in sensitive Amazonian territories, bypassing Indigenous consultation protocols.

At international forums like COP16, activists have warned of a surge in lethal attacks against Indigenous leaders, attributing the violence to the climate of impunity fostered by the current administration.

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