Former Bolivian President Evo Morales has accused the government of his former ally, President Luis Arce, of attempting to assassinate him following a reported early-morning ambush on Sunday in which Morales’s car was allegedly hit by bullets. The incident has deepened political divisions in Bolivia, potentially sparking a new crisis in the Andean nation.
In a video posted on Facebook, Morales, sitting in the front passenger seat, displayed bullet holes in the windshield, claiming he narrowly escaped death. “Elite agents of the Bolivian State attempted to take my life today,” Morales posted on social media.
Responding to the claims, President Arce condemned the use of violence in political disputes, calling for a prompt investigation. Earlier in the day, Bolivia’s Deputy Security Minister Roberto Ríos confirmed that authorities would investigate the incident "whether it is true or a lie," while also stating that no official operation had been conducted against Morales.
The attack comes amid mounting tensions in Bolivia, where Morales’s supporters have been blocking major highways for two weeks to back the embattled former president. These blockades have disrupted the country’s food and fuel supplies, leading to clashes with security forces attempting to clear the routes. The Arce administration recently accused Morales of attempting to destabilize the country and disrupt Bolivia’s democratic order.
Following the ambush, leftist allies from the region voiced their support for Morales, including statements from Venezuela’s foreign minister and former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. A faction of the MAS political party loyal to Morales claimed that heavily armed assailants in black clothing ambushed Morales’s convoy near a military barracks, triggering a chase during which Morales reportedly switched vehicles while his driver sustained injuries. Video footage shared with Reuters showed a chaotic pursuit, although Reuters could not independently verify the video or the allegations.
According to Morales, the attack involved two vehicles intercepting his car and firing on it, with a bullet allegedly passing within centimeters of his head. The MAS faction’s statement reported that one bullet hit the driver of a second vehicle, injuring his arm, and another grazed his head.
“If Luis Arce did not give the order for this attempted murder, he should immediately dismiss and prosecute the Ministers of Government and Defense, Eduardo del Castillo and Edmundo Novillo, along with all the police officers who participated,” Morales stated on social media.
Morales, who governed Bolivia from 2006 to 2019, stepped down amidst widespread unrest following a disputed election. Arce, a former minister under Morales, assumed office in 2020 and is likely to seek re-election in 2025. Morales, however, has also expressed his intention to run, splitting the MAS party between factions loyal to either the current or former president.
The Morales-aligned MAS faction condemned the attack, calling it “evidence that we are facing a fascist government” and claiming the assailants had retreated to a military barracks and later boarded a waiting helicopter.
As Bolivia gears up for next year’s elections, the country faces economic challenges including dwindling natural gas production, depleted foreign reserves, and rising inflation, which is intensifying divisions within the ruling party. Morales is also under scrutiny due to allegations of relationships with minors, a case in which he faces an arrest warrant after failing to appear in court. Morales has denied the accusations.
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