Western Hemisphere 143
Participants: 135 Peru/130 Ecuador
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Ecuador continued to accuse Peru of threatening an invasion, but observ-
ers could find little proof. Tensions remained high during the summer, and on August
10, 1955, Peru arrested four Ecuadorian soldiers, which Ecuador immediately pro-
tested. No dates could be found for when or if the soldiers were released.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from August 1955. End Date changed from
September 27, 1955.
MID#2120
Dispute Number: 2120
Date(s): July 8, 1977 to January 20, 1978
Participants: 130 Ecuador/135 Peru
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: On November 28, 1977, a Peruvian patrol boat attacked an Ecuadorian
fishing vessel—the San Francisco—that had apparently crossed over into Peruvian
territorial waters; one crew member was killed. Peru was ready to apologize for
the incident when further document searches revealed that the San Francisco had
repeatedly encroached upon Peruvian waters and linked the boat to smuggling of
drugs and other illicit goods. Ecuador responded by violating Peruvian airspace and
land borders, and attacked a Peruvian outpost on January 18, 1978. Negotiations
between both ambassadors followed, and both countries agreed to deescalate on
January 20.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from June 21, 1977. End Date changed
from January 18, 1978. Outcome changed from Unclear. Settlement changed from
None.
MID#2119
Dispute Number: 2119
Date(s): January 23, 1981 to March 5, 1981
Participants: 135 Peru/130 Ecuador
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: In 1942, Ecuador and Peru signed a mediated agreement over their shared
border region in the Andes mountain area. The agreement gave Peru control of terri-
tory that had oil and other resources and also provided access to the Amazon River.
Fighting began in January 1981 when Peru attacked Ecuadorian military outposts
located on the Peruvian side of the border—one outpost was called Paquisha, which
lends the name to the “Paquisha Incident.” Ecuador renounced the 1942 treaty shortly
after these incidents and made renewed historical claims to the territory in February
- The states engaged in border clashes from January to late February 1981, but
no other clashes were reported through the late fall of that year. Through a negotiated