Bolivia Protests Enter Third Week as Roadblocks Deepen Crisis

Overview

• Mass mobilizations of miners, transporters, teachers, campesinos and indigenous contingents have sustained roughly 51 roadblocks across seven states, concentrating pressure on La Paz and surrounding highland regions.
• The blockades have produced acute shortages of food, fuel and medicines in La Paz and El Alto and the government says multiple people died after being unable to reach medical care because roads were blocked.
• In response the presidency announced a cabinet reorganization this week, Labor Minister Edgar Morales resigned, Williams Bascopé was named labor minister and pledged to open channels of dialogue with protest leaders.
• The protesters’ central demand has shifted to President Rodrigo Paz’s resignation and the government has accused former president Evo Morales of coordinating unrest from abroad, a claim that has sharpened domestic polarization and provoked regional diplomatic exchanges.
• The crisis builds on a severe economic downturn after December subsidy cuts that left dollar reserves depleted and inflation near 14 percent, raising the risk of prolonged supply disruptions and further political instability.