Bolivia ordered a security crackdown as the government sought to end weeks of nationwide protests

Bolivia’s government has stepped up efforts to break a prolonged wave of anti-government demonstrations, with President Rodrigo Paz declaring a national emergency and authorizing security forces to dismantle roadblocks that have disrupted daily life and economic activity across the country.

The announcement comes after more than six weeks of sustained protests led by trade unions, indigenous organizations and coca farming communities, which have increased pressure on the government through demonstrations and widespread road blockades.

The demonstrations have had a devastating impact on the Andean country, causing shortages of essential goods including fuel, food and medical supplies in major cities. This disruption also caused significant economic losses and increased political tensions around the government.

In a televised address on Saturday evening, President Paz signaled a tougher stance against those behind the protests, and warned that authorities would act decisively to restore order.

Shortly after the declaration, security operations began in several parts of the country. AFP correspondents in El Alto reported seeing heavily armed police units moving through the city in convoys while bulldozers were deployed to remove barricades erected by protesters.

Some residents reportedly clapped as security teams moved through the affected areas.

The emergency declaration, which will be in effect for 90 days, imposes restrictions on public demonstrations and authorizes the government to deploy military personnel inside the country to support internal security operations.

Defending the decision, Paz said the prolonged blockade created hardship for ordinary citizens.

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“Bolivian citizens cannot continue to be held hostage to a blockade that prevents them from working, studying, receiving medical care, getting supplies and bringing food to their homes,” Paz said in a post on social media.

“This state of emergency is not intended to eliminate normalcy, but to restore it.”

Security presence was also stepped up in the capital, La Paz, with military police officers and navy personnel stationed around the presidential palace, while special police units took up positions at strategic public locations.

The protests were largely driven by opposition to the government’s market-oriented economic policies. The protesters demanded that Paz abandon his reform agenda and resign from his post.

The 58-year-old leader, who is Bolivia’s first conservative president in two decades, has previously sought to ease tensions through dialogue. Earlier this week, his administration reached a deal with one of the country’s largest labor organizations in an effort to defuse the crisis.

Based on the agreement, the government promised not to privatize state-owned companies and committed to carrying out further negotiations. In return, the Bolivian Workers’ Center agreed to stop its protests.

Despite the breakthrough, resistance remains strong among some indigenous groups, many of whom reject the agreement and vow to continue their campaign against the government.

Authorities said more than 40 large roadblocks remained active across Bolivia, raising concerns that the political deadlock could continue despite the latest emergency measures.