Bolivia deploys 3,500 troops to clear La Paz roadblocks amid economic crisis
Around 57 arrests made as soldiers and police move against blockades erected by miners, teachers and Indigenous groups; Argentina’s Milei offers support.
Bolivian authorities have deployed approximately 3,500 soldiers and police officers in an early-morning operation to clear roadblocks outside La Paz, escalating state action against nationwide protests demanding the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz. The crackdown, which began in the early hours of Saturday, resulted in around 57 arrests, according to the citizens’ rights ombudsman’s office.
The demonstrations, organised by a coalition of miners, schoolteachers, Indigenous groups and unions, have erected approximately 22 roadblocks across the country in recent weeks. These blockades have disrupted supply chains, leading to long queues for fuel and increased food prices, as Bolivia navigates what officials describe as its worst economic crisis in decades.
Presidential spokesperson Jose Luis Galvez stated that the military operation was designed to establish a “humanitarian corridor” to ensure the free flow of supplies to hospitals in La Paz. The government has estimated that three people have died after being unable to reach medical facilities due to the blockades, although independent verification of these figures is not provided in the source material.
President Paz, who was elected in October marking the end of nearly two decades of rule by the Movement for Socialism, has faced significant public backlash since taking office. Despite campaigning on alleviating economic stress, his administration’s decision to end a two-decade-old fuel subsidy and push for the privatisation of state-owned companies has sparked widespread outrage. Earlier this month, protests forced the repeal of Law 1720, a land reform measure critics argued could dispossess small rural landowners.
The crisis has been exacerbated by dwindling natural gas supplies, which powered the economy for nearly three decades, and cratered foreign currency reserves. In response to the instability, President Paz thanked Argentine President Javier Milei for delivering humanitarian assistance. Milei responded by denouncing the protesters as anti-democratic, stating that Argentina supports Bolivia’s democratically elected authorities against those seeking to destabilise the country.
