Bolivia: Evo Morales Claims Assassination Attempt, Accuses Government

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Facts

  • Bolivia's former Pres. Evo Morales claimed on Sunday that he suffered an assassination attempt earlier in the day after gunmen intercepted his car in the central department of Cochabamba and opened fire, reportedly injuring his driver in the head and arm.[1][2]
  • Morales blamed the attack on the incumbent president, his ally-turned-foe Luis Arce, and two government ministers, and reported the incident to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.[1][3]
  • Arce took to X to condemn the attack in response to these allegations, with Deputy Security Minister Roberto Ríos adding that authorities are investigating the claims, whether true or false.[4][5]
  • Both Morales and Arce belong to the same Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party, but they have been in a power struggle since last year ahead of the 2025 presidential elections.[1][6]
  • Bolivia's political turmoil has seen an alleged failed coup attempt in June and a days-long Morales-led march to La Paz in September to protest the economic crisis and demand a cabinet reshuffle.[5][7]
  • Morales currently faces allegations of statutory rape and human trafficking, which he describes as politically motivated, and could be arrested for ignoring a judicial summons to appear in court and testify.[4][8]

Sources: [1]CNN, [2]RT, [3]teleSURenglish, [4]Al Jazeera, [5]Associated Press, [6]Reuters, [7]France 24 and [8]BBC News.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Últimas Noticias. The attack against Evo Morales and his entourage is a clear act of fascist violence with the sole intention of silencing a political leader and promoting hatred in the country. Authorities in Bolivia must hold accountable those responsible for this assassination attempt.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Guardian. This so-called assassination attempt against Morales was most likely staged as he has long sought to cause unrest in Bolivia to advance his own political ambitions and undermine the Arce administration. It's better to take his claims with a grain of salt before investigations are concluded.

Predictions