Bolivia rocked by blockades as president accuses former leader Evo Morales of destabilization

​​​​​​​By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Bolivia entered a third day of widespread blockades on Wednesday, with clashes between police and supporters of former President Evo Morales that have left at least 13 officers injured.

Six of the officers were injured from a dynamite explosion and 20 civilians were arrested amid roadblocks that have paralyzed the central region.

Interior Minister Roberto Rios reported that roadblocks in the Cochabamba region "are not peaceful," confirming that police officers "were ambushed and injured" near Bombeo, on the highway connecting Cochabamba with the country's western sector.

Rios said a female police officer, briefly held in Sipe Sipe by Morales supporters, was rescued within hours and later "received the necessary medical attention."

Police Commander Augusto Russo reported that nationwide operations led to the arrest of four individuals found in possession of 767 explosive devices.

Hundreds of Morales's supporters have occupied key highways in central and southern Bolivia, demanding President Luis Arce's resignation. They accuse Arce of exacerbating the economic crisis and politically sidelining the former leader ahead of presidential elections in August.

Protesters are specifically calling on the Supreme Electoral Tribunal to register Morales as a candidate, despite Constitutional Court rulings that have blocked his path by establishing that no official can seek more than one re-election, continuous or discontinuous.

Arce alleges Morales is “willing to surround cities and prevent the passage of food supplies” to “force” his unconstitutional presidential candidacy., Arce further claimed on X that Morales “seeks to prevent the Aug. 17 general elections if his disqualification is ratified."

The pro-Morales blockades coincide with weeks of demonstrations by other sectors demanding action on the economic crisis, escalating prices and persistent fuel shortages that have caused long queues in cities nationwide for the last month.

Bolivia has grappled with an escalating economic crisis for more than two years, characterized by a dollar shortage, a sustained rise in living costs and prolonged periods of diesel and gasoline scarcity driven by import reliance.

The worsening situation in recent months has fueled a wave of protests, intensifying the electoral climate less than three months before elections for a president, vice president, 36 senators and 130 deputies.​​​​​​​