Weekly Report - 21 May 2026 (WR-26-20)

It was only a matter of time before President Rodrigo Paz faced a major uprising against his efforts to transform Bolivia’s economic model. Intermittent unrest around the country in recent weeks, particularly on the highway network, came to a head in the capital La Paz on 14 May and continued to escalate over the following days. Amid scenes of looting and violent clashes with the police, the government is facing growing pressure to declare a state of exception. It accuses former president Evo Morales (2006-2019) of inciting disorder from his followers to warn the authorities against arresting him following his failure to attend the start of his human trafficking trial on 11 May [WR-26-19].