Ecuador: Mass Protests Against Mining Expansion Threatening Water Sources
Thousands of Ecuadorians, including indigenous communities, labor unions, students, and environmental activists, took to the streets on September 16, 2026, to protest against mining expansion in the páramos, particularly the controversial Loma Larga project in Kimsacocha. Demonstrators demanded mining-free water and expressed their opposition to President Daniel Noboa's extractivist policies, which they believe threaten local water sources and ecosystems. The protests, which took place in cities like Cuenca, were part of a broader movement defending water resources and territorial rights.4 sourcesSee all sources