Recent violent clashes in Ecuadorian prisons have resulted in multiple deaths and injuries, highlighting the country's ongoing issues with overcrowding, gang violence, and weak prison control. A riot at a prison in Machala, sparked by the transfer of inmates to a new maximum-security facility, left 4 inmates dead and over 30 injured. This incident follows a previous riot at the same prison, where 14 inmates died in gang-related violence. Authorities regained control after the riot, but the situation underscores the dangerous conditions in Ecuador's prisons, which have seen more than 500 deaths since 2021. Similar violent outbreaks have occurred elsewhere, including a clash in Esmeraldas last month that killed at least 17 inmates. The country's prisons are heavily influenced by organized crime, with gangs armed with smuggled weapons continuing criminal activities from behind bars. The violence is part of a broader pattern of unrest, including hostage-taking and mass riots, reflecting systemic issues within Ecuador's penal system.