Bolivia court issues new arrest warrant for Evo Morales over protest-linked allegations

A court in Bolivia has issued a new arrest warrant for former president Evo Morales, according to the Santa Cruz district prosecutor's office. The warrant is linked to an investigation into allegations of armed uprising against the state, terrorism and attacks on transport safety. The case comes after Morales backed protests in June by farmers and truckers amid anger over the country's economic crisis and austerity plans.

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The prosecutor's office said the investigation concerns Morales's alleged role in the demonstrations and the disruption they caused. Morales responded on social media that the authorities would not intimidate him. He also accused the government of trying to distract from what he described as Bolivia's deep economic and social crisis, and said the system was protecting corruption.

Morales remains one of Bolivia's most consequential political figures. He was the country's first Indigenous president and served three terms from 2006 until his resignation in 2019 after an election marred by fraud allegations. He later went into exile in Mexico and Argentina before returning after his political ally Luis Arce won the presidency.

His long political career has been marked by both economic gains and accusations of heavy-handed rule, and the latest warrant adds to a series of legal and political confrontations. The new case also lands against a backdrop of wider unrest and economic strain. Bolivia has faced protests over rising living costs, transport disruption and disputes over austerity measures.

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The June demonstrations were part of that pressure, and the latest legal move suggests the confrontation between Morales and the authorities remains active. It also raises the stakes for a political system already under strain from competing claims over legitimacy, public order and the handling of the economy. Morales has previously faced other legal pressure, including allegations surfaced in late 2024 involving trafficking a minor and statutory rape, which he rejected.

By early 2025, his supporters had blocked roads in protest, and he had refused to appear at court hearings. A renewed arrest warrant was also issued earlier this year in connection with those allegations, showing that the current case is part of a broader and continuing legal battle. What remains unclear is how quickly the warrant will be enforced and whether Morales will appear before the court.

It is also not yet clear how his supporters will respond if authorities move to detain him. The case is likely to remain politically sensitive because it combines criminal allegations, protest unrest and Bolivia's wider economic crisis.

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