Bolivia’s Foreign Ministry says at least 200 soldiers are being held hostage by armed supporters of former president Evo Morales.
On Friday, the Bolivian army reported that the armed group had taken control of a military facility near the Bolivian city of Cochabamba.
In an update, Bolivia’s Foreign Ministry said the group had “seized weapons and ammunition”, adding that three military units had been “attacked by irregular groups”.
Images of a row of soldiers with their hands behind their backs, surrounded by members of the armed group, were shown on local television.
Cochabamba is located in central Bolivia and is home to many of the former president’s supporters.
Local media reported that shortly after the facility was taken over, the military announced the evacuation of employees and their families.
Bolivia’s ANF news agency said one of the soldiers detained at the facility said in a text message to his command center that the group was asking authorities to stop interfering in the protests. radiate..
Morales’ supporters created blockades across the country for 19 days, demanding an end to the investigation of the former president for allegations of statutory rape and human trafficking, which he denies.
On Sunday, Morales shared a video about his car being shot at, in what he called an “assassination plot” against him.
The Bolivian government denied Morales’ claim that it ordered a targeted attack on him.
His supporters clashed with followers of his opponent, incumbent President Luis Arce, several times earlier this year. Both men intend to run as candidates for the ruling Mas party in the country’s 2025 presidential election.
Morales, president from 2006 to 2019, was declared winner of the 2019 election but resigned a few weeks later following nationwide protests over allegations of election fraud.
