Bolivia Accuses Evo Morales of Terrorism as Road Blockades Paralyze Economy

Bolivia’s Justice Minister Cesar Siles on June 6, 2025, accused former president Evo Morales of terrorism after authorities filed a formal complaint against him.

The government alleges Morales ordered his supporters to block roads and cut off supplies to La Paz after he was banned from running in the August presidential election. Officials say these blockades, which began Monday, have immobilized central Bolivia and now affect the entire country.

Morales’ supporters, angered by the electoral authority’s refusal to let him seek a fourth term, quickly escalated their protest into a broader revolt against President Luis Arce.

Demonstrators now demand Arce’s resignation, blaming him for Bolivia’s deepening economic crisis. The country faces severe shortages of hard currency and fuel, with daily life disrupted in major cities.

The Ministry of Economy reports that the blockades are inflicting daily losses of $100 to $150 million on the Bolivian economy. A leaked audio recording surfaced Thursday, allegedly capturing Morales urging followers in the agricultural heartland to close two main roads leading to La Paz.

The government counted over 40 blockades nationwide that day. Clashes between protesters and police have left around 30 officers injured, according to the Deputy Minister of Communication.

Morales, who governed from 2006 to 2019, remains barred from re-election by a Constitutional Court ruling. He has faced similar accusations before, notably in 2019, when authorities charged him with sedition and terrorism during another period of unrest.

Morales also faces unrelated charges of human trafficking, which he rejects as judicial persecution. This crisis exposes Bolivia’s fragile political stability and highlights the economic risks that come when political disputes disrupt trade and supply chains.