In Bolivia, former president Evo Morales has accused the government of his former ally and current president, Luis Arce, of attempting to assassinate him.
This accusation came after Morales’ vehicle was reportedly struck by bullets in an early-morning ambush on Sunday, an event that threatens to deepen Bolivia’s political tensions. Morales, whose supporters have organised road blockades to protest his ongoing legal issues, posted a video showing bullet holes in his car’s windshield and claimed that “elite agents of the Bolivian State attempted to take my life today.”
Arce, responding to the claims, condemned all political violence and called for a prompt investigation. His deputy security minister also confirmed that the government would investigate the incident, regardless of its credibility.
Meanwhile, tensions have escalated in Bolivia, where Morales’ supporters have blocked key highways for two weeks, limiting food and fuel distribution and clashing with authorities attempting to dismantle the blockades. The Arce administration has countered by accusing Morales of trying to destabilise the country and interrupt its democratic order.
The attack on Morales has elicited support from leftist leaders in the region, including Venezuela’s foreign minister and former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. The Morales-aligned faction of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party, which has divided loyalties between Morales and Arce, stated that Morales’ convoy was ambushed near a military barracks by vehicles carrying heavily armed men in black. Video footage shared online appears to show a high-speed chase, during which Morales switched cars as his driver was injured. Morales’ spokesperson announced plans for a press conference to present evidence that the government orchestrated the alleged attack.
In a radio interview following the incident, Morales claimed that the attackers intercepted his car, with bullets narrowly missing him and wounding his driver. Morales demanded that President Arce immediately dismiss and prosecute several top officials, including government and defence ministers, if Arce himself did not authorise the attack.
“If Luis Arce did not give the order for this attempted murder, he should immediately dismiss and prosecute Eduardo del Castillo and Edmundo Novillo, (Arce’s) government and defense ministers, along with all the police officers who participated,” Morales later wrote on social media.
Bolivia’s Deputy Security Minister, Roberto Rios, later stated that police were not involved in any operation targeting Morales.
The country’s political landscape has been tumultuous since Morales, who served three terms as president, resigned in 2019 following a contested election. Morales’ exit led to Arce, his former economy minister, taking office in 2020. Both men are expected to run in the 2025 elections, which has split the MAS party into factions supporting each leader. Alongside these political fractures, Bolivia faces significant economic pressures, including reduced gas production, declining foreign reserves, and rising inflation.
In addition to the political feud, Morales faces allegations related to relationships with minors, with regional prosecutors recently issuing a summons for his testimony. Morales did not appear, leading to an arrest warrant, though he has denied all allegations. The recent events, coupled with deep-seated political rivalries and economic struggles, paint a challenging picture for Bolivia as it heads toward its next election.
Melissa Enoch
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