Bolivia's Safety Amidst Riots: A Traveler's Concern

Bolivia has a history of political instability and civil unrest, with several recent incidents of rioting and protesting. The most recent unrest was sparked by supporters of former President Evo Morales, who was ousted in 2019 following allegations of electoral fraud. Protests and blockades have caused significant traffic disruptions and food and fuel shortages across the country, with clashes between demonstrators and security forces resulting in several deaths and injuries. While the current situation in Bolivia is tense, it is important to recognise that the country has been a democracy since 1982, and the risk of a coup or widespread violence is relatively low. However, travellers are advised to avoid all protests and to heed official directives to ensure their safety.

The 2003 La Paz riots, also known as Black February, were sparked by a progressive salary tax

To meet the IMF's demands, the government of President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada proposed a progressive income tax targeting the wealthiest 4% of the population. However, due to the relatively low amount of revenue this would generate, the tax was expanded to include all individuals earning twice the national minimum wage. This meant that those in the lowest income bracket, such as nurses, police, and teachers, would also be affected by the tax hike. The proposal was nearly unanimously repudiated by the general public, including businessmen, opposition political parties, and trade unions, who threatened to mobilize in protest.

On February 12, 2003, the National Police Corps mutinied against the government, with officers abandoning their posts and gathering in protest near the Plaza Murillo and GES headquarters. The situation escalated when students from the Ayacucho School joined the protests and were fired upon with tear gas by crowd control units from the Police Academy. The students reconvened and forced the policemen to retreat to the Legislative Palace, and the standoff continued to escalate with the arrival of army units.

The following day, February 13, the violence intensified, with live ammunition being exchanged between the military and national police. Rioters set fire to seven buildings, including the Vice President's Office and the Ministry of Finance, and looted multiple public and municipal institutions. The official death toll was 31 deaths, with 268 people injured. In the aftermath of the riots, Sanchez de Lozada agreed to suspend the tax plan and withdraw the bill from Congress. The events of Black February served as a precursor to prolonged public discontent with Sanchez de Lozada's administration, ultimately leading to his resignation and flight from the country within eight months.

The 2019 Bolivian protests, or Pitita Revolution, were in response to claims of electoral fraud

The 2019 Bolivian protests, also known as the Pitita Revolution, were a series of demonstrations and marches that took place from 21 October 2019 until late November of that year. The protests were in response to claims of electoral fraud in the 2019 Bolivian general election, which took place on 20 October.

The election results were disputed, with incumbent Evo Morales initially declared the winner. However, the suspension of the preliminary vote count, where Morales did not lead by a large enough margin to avoid a runoff, and the subsequent publication of the official count, where Morales won by just over 10%, sparked accusations of fraud. Some international observers, including the Organization of American States (OAS), expressed concern over the integrity of the elections.

The protests resulted in a period of civil unrest, with demonstrations and marches by both supporters and opponents of Morales. While the majority of the demonstrations were peaceful, there were also acts of violence and clashes between the two sides. The protests also included strikes, roadblocks, and the occupation of media outlets.

The Bolivian opposition, led by Carlos Mesa, rejected the election results and called for new elections. They published a report detailing fraud accusations, including irregularities in the electoral process. In response to the allegations, Morales invited international observers to audit the electoral processes and agreed to hold a runoff if any fraud was found. However, he initially refused to be bound by the results of the audit.

The OAS conducted an audit of the election and released a preliminary report on 10 November 2019, questioning the integrity of the election results and recommending another electoral process. Following the release of the OAS report, Morales announced that a new election would be held. However, he resigned later that day, along with his vice president, Álvaro García Linera, after losing support from the military and police, as well as facing protests from opposition groups.

The protests continued until the end of November, primarily by those seeking Morales' return. Under the direction of Morales and his allies, protesters created blockades on highways, resulting in shortages of food and fuel. The interim government, led by Jeanine Áñez, the second vice president of the Senate, worked to end the blockades and release arrested protesters.

The 2019 Bolivian protests, or Pitita Revolution, highlighted the political divide in the country and the controversial nature of Morales' reelection bid, with accusations of electoral fraud and violations of the Bolivian constitution. The protests ultimately led to the resignation of Morales and a period of political instability in Bolivia.

The 2019 protests resulted in violence, including attacks on senior members of the Movement for Socialism (MAS)

The 2019 protests in Bolivia, also known as the Pitita Revolution, were sparked by claims of electoral fraud in the 2019 general election. While most demonstrations were peaceful, there were also violent clashes. The violence initially targeted opposition protesters, with pro-MAS supporters being given weapons and sent into opposition areas to clear blockades, resulting in deaths and injuries.

As the protests continued, senior members of the Movement for Socialism (MAS) and their families became the targets of attacks. Their houses were vandalised and set on fire. These acts of violence against MAS members came in the later weeks of the protests, after the resignation of Evo Morales, the former president, and his vice president, Álvaro García Linera.

Morales resigned after the National Union of Workers, the Armed Forces, and the National Police Commander requested his resignation. This followed a disputed election in which Morales was declared the winner by a margin of just over 10%, thus avoiding a runoff election. However, there were concerns about the integrity of the elections, and an audit by the Organization of American States (OAS) questioned the election results and recommended another "electoral process".

The protests continued into late November, primarily by those who sought Morales' return. These protesters, under the direction of Morales and his allies, created blockades on highways, resulting in food and fuel shortages. The interim government, led by Jeanine Áñez, responded to armed protests with massacres, and by the end of November, agreements were made with protest leaders to end the blockades and release arrested protesters.

In 2024, Bolivia experienced protests and blockades which caused significant traffic disruptions and shortages

In response to the protests, authorities implemented contingency measures to transport essential goods. However, some shortages persisted as protesters continued to block the country's main highways. Heightened security was likely around protest sites, and significant ground transport disruptions were expected in affected areas. There were also counterprotests by opposition and business groups, and transport workers blocked routes in central La Paz on 1 February.

The 2024 protests in Bolivia echo similar demonstrations in the country's recent history. In 2019, Bolivia experienced protests and marches in response to claims of electoral fraud in the 2019 general election. These protests also included blockades on inter-departmental highways, resulting in food and fuel shortages. Additionally, in 2003, La Paz, Bolivia, experienced civil unrest due to the imposition of a progressive salary tax aimed at meeting the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) goal of reducing the country's fiscal deficit. The 2003 La Paz riots, known as "Black February," led to violent armed confrontations between the police and the army, resulting in deaths, injuries, and widespread damage to public and municipal buildings.

The 2024 unrest in Bolivia has been linked to supporters of former President Evo Morales

The unrest in 2024 stems from a rift between Morales and his former ally, current President Luis Arce. In 2020, Morales handpicked Arce, his former finance minister, as the candidate for the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) party, and Arce won a landslide election victory. This allowed Morales to return to Bolivia. However, both men wanted to be the MAS candidate in the 2025 presidential election, causing a split within the party.

In 2024, Morales led a protest march with thousands of his supporters from Caracollo to La Paz, the political capital. The aim of the march was to "'save' the country from Arce, who had become his bitter rival. Clashes broke out with counter-protesters, who tried to stop them with rocks and tear gas, resulting in injuries on both sides.

Morales's supporters presented the Arce government with a list of demands, including the rejection of any measure to disqualify Morales from the 2025 election. The constitutional court ruling in December 2023 put Arce's supporters' insistence on ruling out Morales, although many experts disagree. The ongoing tension between the two factions of the MAS party has paralysed the party, affecting its ability to make decisions and address the country's economic turmoil.

The conflict between Morales and Arce has led to a sense of crisis in Bolivia, with an attempted coup by a disgruntled general in June 2024. While the threat to Bolivia's democracy has receded for now, the country continues to face economic challenges, including fuel shortages and rising inflation.

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