A Country Held Hostage

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An armed group took control of a military outpost in central Bolivia and held at least 200 soldiers hostage, Bolivian officials announced over the weekend, as tensions continued to escalate between supporters of former President Evo Morales and the government after weeks of tension and violence, CNN reported.

On Friday, the Bolivian military said an “irregular armed group” had kidnapped the soldiers and seized weapons and ammunition from a base in the city of Cochabamba. President Luis Arce alleged that the group was “affiliated” with Morales, but did not provide any evidence.

The incident comes as supporters of Morales – the country’s first Indigenous leader – have been blocking major highways in an effort to prevent the former president’s arrest.

Bolivian authorities have accused Morales of statutory rape and human trafficking over his alleged relationship with a 15-year-old girl in 2015, noted Agence France-Presse.

Morales has rejected the allegations and his supporters have called for an end to his “judicial persecution.” The blockades have led to food and fuel shortages in some cities.

Morales and his former ally Arce have been at loggerheads after Morales announced that he planned to challenge the incumbent for the nomination of the left-wing Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party in next year’s elections.

Even so, questions remain over whether he will be able to participate in those elections because a court barred him from running last year.

Morales governed Bolivia between 2006 and 2019.

He resigned shortly after he was declared the winner of the 2019 elections following mass demonstrations due to allegations of electoral fraud.