Gabriela Sommerfeld Leaves Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry After More Than Two Years in Office
Ecuador’s diplomatic landscape is entering a new phase following the resignation of Gabriela Sommerfeld as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility. The former foreign minister announced her departure on June 7, 2026, through a public letter in which she cited personal and health reasons for stepping down from the position she had held since November 2023.
The decision brings to an end a tenure that coincided with some of the most challenging moments in Ecuador’s recent foreign policy history. During her time in office, Sommerfeld became one of the most prominent international representatives of President Daniel Noboa’s administration.
In her farewell message, Sommerfeld thanked the president for the trust placed in her and emphasized that she had carried out her responsibilities with dedication and loyalty to the country. She described serving Ecuador and representing it abroad as “the greatest honor” of her professional career.
Throughout her administration, the Foreign Ministry advanced the digitalization of consular services, strengthened assistance programs for Ecuadorians living abroad, and promoted new international cooperation initiatives. Sommerfeld also highlighted the creation of the Vice Ministry for International Cooperation and efforts to expand Ecuador’s diplomatic and trade relations.
Her tenure was marked by significant diplomatic challenges. Among the most notable was the crisis triggered by Ecuadorian security forces’ entry into the Mexican Embassy in Quito in April 2024 to arrest former Vice President Jorge Glas. The incident led to the severance of diplomatic relations between Ecuador and Mexico and drew widespread international scrutiny.
Following Sommerfeld’s resignation, the Ecuadorian government announced the appointment of Roberto Kury as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility. According to the presidency, the new foreign minister will be tasked with continuing a foreign policy agenda aligned with Ecuador’s strategic interests.
Sommerfeld’s departure comes amid a broader government restructuring effort led by President Noboa, who has introduced changes across several sectors of the administration in an effort to improve public-sector efficiency.
With her resignation, a significant chapter in Ecuador’s foreign policy comes to a close. Her tenure was characterized by active diplomacy, regional challenges, and efforts to strengthen the country’s international presence. The challenge for the new leadership of the Foreign Ministry will be to maintain stability in Ecuador’s foreign relations while navigating an increasingly complex global environment.
Team V.DIR-EM-UAE
