Bolivia Deploys 3,500 Soldiers and Police to Clear Blockades Near La Paz

Approximately 3,500 Bolivian soldiers and police were mobilized early Saturday in a military operation to clear blockades erected by anti-government protesters outside the capital, La Paz. According to the human rights ombudsman's office, 57 people were detained during the operation.

The protests, organized by miners, teachers, indigenous groups, and unions, reflect widespread anger at the center-right administration of President Rodrigo Paz. Bolivia is currently experiencing its worst economic crisis in decades.

The government’s foreign exchange reserves have plummeted as exports, particularly natural gas, have slowed. For nearly three decades, abundant gas reserves were the backbone of the economy, making Bolivia a major South American energy exporter. However, since 2022, due to poor management and dwindling supply, the country has been forced to import fuel, worsening the crisis. Many areas across the country now face long lines for fuel and shortages of essentials like food.

Paz, who won the October election, had promised to ease economic pressures. But since taking office, he has sparked outrage by ending two-decade-old fuel subsidies and pushing for privatization of state-owned enterprises. Earlier this month, protests forced the government to rescind Law 1720 on land reform, which critics said could strip small farmers of their land.

The Bolivian government estimates that 22 blockades have been set up across the country in recent weeks. Some protesters are demanding President Paz's resignation, as his election marked the end of nearly two decades of rule by the Socialist Movement (MAS). In contrast, the presidential office blames the protests for cutting off essential supplies to La Paz, where the government is based. Food prices have risen since the blockades began, and the government says three people have died because they could not reach hospitals.

Presidential spokesperson Jose Luis Galvez said Saturday’s operation aimed to create a “humanitarian corridor” to ensure supplies reach hospitals in La Paz. Earlier, Paz thanked his Argentine counterpart, Javier Milei, for sending humanitarian aid to Bolivia. “This gesture of solidarity not only strengthens the historic brotherly ties between our two nations but also provides crucial relief to our community in difficult times,” Paz wrote on social media. In response, President Milei condemned the protesters as anti-democratic, stating that Argentina supports Bolivia’s democratically elected government.