LA PAZ, Bolivia — On Saturday, the Bolivian government announced that over 200 soldiers have been taken hostage by supporters of former President Evo Morales amid ongoing unrest fueled by a legal investigation into allegations against him. This situation has been escalating for three weeks now and has raised concerns over security and political stability in the nation.

In a statement from Bolivia’s Foreign Ministry, it was revealed that the individuals responsible for the hostage crisis are affiliated with “irregular groups.” The ministry also accused these groups of stealing weapons and ammunition, although it did not specify their identities or the circumstances of the soldiers’ capture. Just the previous day, President Luis Arce pointed to Morales’ supporters as being behind protests and violent acts targeting military facilities.

President Arce condemned the takeover of three military barracks located in a key coca-growing region as a “deplorable criminal act” that strays far from any legitimate grievances voiced by the Indigenous peasant community. Tension initially flared up when Bolivian prosecutors initiated an investigation concerning claims that Morales had fathered a child with a 15-year-old girl in 2016, categorizing this relationship as statutory rape. Morales has consistently declined to testify in court regarding these allegations.

Since news of a potential arrest warrant surfaced, Morales has been in hiding in the Chapare area of central Bolivia, where loyal supporters from the coca-growing community have been mobilized to protect him from law enforcement. His followers have threatened to seize police and military facilities nationwide, demanding the cessation of judicial proceedings against their former leader.

The Foreign Ministry expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with all societal sectors, but cautioned that meaningful discussions cannot occur while these groups continue to perpetrate violence against the Bolivian populace. The ministry also suggested that these actions reflect personal ambitions rather than genuine socio-economic interests.

Last week, tensions boiled over as clashes between security forces and Morales’ supporters resulted in injuries to 30 police officers and the arrest of more than 50 protestors during heightened standoffs. Recent developments indicate that a significant political struggle is underway between Arce and Morales, as both leaders vie for dominance within their ruling party, which is experiencing a division among their respective supporters in anticipation of the 2025 elections.