Bolivia court issues arrest warrant for ex-president Evo Morales over uprising and rape charges
A Bolivian court has authorized an arrest warrant for former President Evo Morales, accusing him of armed uprising, terrorism and statutory rape.
A district court in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, issued an arrest order for former President Evo Morales, alleging he led an armed uprising against state security, committed terrorism, and attacked transport infrastructure, while also facing a renewed rape-related warrant. The accusations stem from Morales’ backing of June protests by farmers and truckers opposing President Rodrigo Paz’s austerity plan amid a severe economic downturn.
Morales responded on X, rejecting intimidation and claiming the government seeks to hide the nation’s socioeconomic crisis and corruption. He reiterated his commitment to the populace and to a path of dignity, sovereignty and social justice. The warrant directs police to detain him and hand him over to the special anticorruption unit. The case follows earlier 2024 allegations of trafficking a minor and a 15-year-old’s statutory rape, which sparked nationwide road blockades by his supporters.
Why it matters
The warrant could reignite Bolivia’s political unrest and affect the country’s fragile economic recovery.
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