Clashes Erupt in Bolivia as Evo Morales Supporters March Toward La Paz

Bolivia witnessed violent confrontations between pro-government supporters and followers of former president Evo Morales on Sunday, marking a significant escalation in tensions ahead of the 2025 presidential election. The clashes occurred in El Alto as Morales’s supporters continued their weeklong march to La Paz, protesting against the current administration led by President Luis Arce.
During the melee, protesters and counterprotesters exchanged firecrackers, homemade explosives, and stones, while riot police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowds. At least eight people were reported injured, according to the health ministry.
This standoff highlights the deep political rift in Bolivia, fueled by the rivalry between Morales and Arce as they vie for control of the dominant socialist party, MAS. The ongoing political crisis, which began with Morales’s controversial resignation in 2019, has resulted in a depletion of foreign-exchange reserves and heightened street protests.
Mobilized by economic hardships and grievances against Arce’s government, Morales’s supporters have vowed to continue their “March to Save Bolivia.” They demand urgent action from the government, with one marcher declaring, “We want to tell the government that it has seven days to solve the massive problems we have in the country.”
The unrest is indicative of a potentially volatile political landscape as both factions prepare for the upcoming election.