Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has requested aid from Colombia amidst an electricity crisis that is causing power cuts of up to 14 hours a day. As he faces declining popularity before the February 2025 elections, Noboa emphasized the need for assistance from Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who has previously called for regional solidarity in addressing the crisis. Both nations are grappling with the effects of a debilitating drought that has significantly disrupted energy supplies, necessitating urgent intervention to restore normalcy for affected households.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has formally requested assistance from Colombia to help alleviate the ongoing electricity crisis in Ecuador, where power outages have affected households for up to 14 hours daily since September 23. Acknowledging a decline in his popularity in light of this crisis, Noboa articulated his plea to Colombian President Gustavo Petro during a televised interview, expressing hope for support at an upcoming meeting at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Cali. Noboa noted, “I saw there in the press that (Petro) was talking about helping Ecuador, the first one should be him. We would be very grateful and it is not free, it is that he sells (energy).” On October 25, Petro called for regional solidarity with Ecuador amid the energy crisis, which has been exacerbated by a drought affecting both nations. Following Colombia’s cessation of energy sales to Ecuador on October 1 due to their own adverse conditions, Noboa conveyed that despite the negative impact on his administration’s public image, he remains committed to restoring confidence among Ecuadorians before the presidential elections on February 9, 2025. Noboa stated, “If I were a normal citizen, I would be upset with the president if there were blackouts, whether it is his fault or not… The vast majority of people know that it is not our fault how we got to this point, but they want to see action and… it is going to be resolved soon.” In mid-September, Noboa was leading in polling for the upcoming elections, but he faces stiff competition from at least 15 other candidates according to the National Electoral Council data.
Ecuador is currently facing a significant energy crisis characterized by prolonged electricity blackouts affecting a large number of households. These outages began on September 23, 2023, due to a combination of factors, primarily a severe drought that has impacted hydroelectric power generation. President Daniel Noboa, who assumed office in November 2022 and is navigating a challenging political landscape, has sought to pivot his administration’s efforts towards resolving this crisis while also managing his waning popularity as he prepares for the upcoming presidential election in February 2025.
In summary, President Daniel Noboa of Ecuador is actively seeking assistance from Colombia to address the severe electricity crisis affecting his country. His public appeal to Colombian President Gustavo Petro reflects the urgency of the situation, as Ecuador grapples with extended power outages due to drought conditions. With elections approaching, Noboa is aware of the impact of this crisis on his popularity and is focused on regaining public trust through effective crisis management and restoration of normalcy for Ecuadorian citizens.
Original Source: en.mercopress.com
