In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through Bolivian politics, an arrest warrant has been issued for the country’s former president, Evo Morales. The 65-year-old, who governed from 2006 to 2019, stands accused of human trafficking involving a minor – allegations that he vehemently denies.
According to sources close to the investigation, the warrant has been active since October but has yet to be executed due to concerns for the safety of law enforcement attempting to apprehend the ex-leader. Morales, who has been under the protection of coca growers in his rural stronghold of Cochabamba, claims he is the victim of a “brutal judicial war” orchestrated by current president Luis Arce.
A Bitter Rivalry Erupts
The shocking allegations have brought to light a deep rift within Bolivia’s ruling Movimiento al Socialismo (Mas) party. Once close allies, Morales and Arce are now locked in a fierce battle for the party’s presidential nomination ahead of the 2025 elections. Morales, who draws support from rural coca growers, has accused Arce of engaging in “lawfare” against him in order to hand him over to the United States as a “trophy of war”.
The former president, who made history as Bolivia’s first Indigenous leader, insists that the accusations are part of a calculated strategy by Arce to prevent him from running in the upcoming presidential race. The rivalry between the two political heavyweights has escalated in recent months, with Morales leading a march of thousands of supporters to the capital, La Paz, in September to protest against the government, resulting in violent clashes that left scores injured.
Allegations of a Political Ploy
At the heart of the controversy are accusations that Morales fathered a child with a 15-year-old girl in 2016. Prosecutors allege that the girl’s parents, seeking to “climb the political ladder”, sent her to Morales’s youth brigade in 2015. A year later, she reportedly gave birth to a baby, with Morales alleged to be the father.
Despite Bolivia’s supreme court ruling that Morales cannot run in the August elections, the defiant ex-president has vowed to contest the presidency. The current warrant issued against him is valid for six months, adding further uncertainty to an already volatile political landscape.
A Nation in Crisis
The explosive allegations against Morales come at a time when Bolivia is grappling with a severe economic crisis, marked by a shortage of US dollars and a sharp drop in imports of essential goods like fuel and food. Experts warn that the political turmoil within the ruling party could exacerbate the country’s woes, as opposing factions vie for control in the absence of a strong opposition capable of mounting a serious challenge.
“Economic crises usually lead to massive political fractures. What’s strange in Bolivia’s case is that all this political polarisation is happening within the same party.”
– Angus McNelly, lecturer in international development at King’s College London
As tensions continue to mount, there are growing concerns about the potential for violence and instability in the lead-up to the 2025 elections. The country’s future hangs in the balance, with many fearing that the current crisis could plunge Bolivia into a period of prolonged uncertainty and unrest.
A Nation Divided
The allegations against Morales have deepened the fault lines in Bolivian society, with supporters of the former president claiming that he is the victim of a politically motivated witch-hunt, while his detractors insist that no one is above the law, regardless of their status or influence.
As the country braces itself for what promises to be a turbulent period ahead, many are left wondering whether Bolivia can navigate this crisis and emerge stronger, or whether the current turmoil will plunge the nation into a prolonged period of instability and decline. Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the eyes of the world will be on Bolivia as this high-stakes political drama unfolds.
