Bolivia’s president has declared a state of emergency, documents obtained by this desk confirm. The Foreign Office has followed suit, upgrading its travel advice to “do not travel”. The move comes amid escalating unrest in the country, with sources on the ground reporting clashes between security forces and protesters.
The state of emergency grants the government sweeping powers to restrict movement and assembly. The precise trigger for the declaration remains unclear, but sources suggest it is linked to a disputed election result that has left the country polarised. The UK’s travel ban is a rare step, reserved for only the most volatile situations.
It effectively cancels all travel insurance for British nationals and warns of “arbitrary detention” and “violent crime”. The Bolivian government has accused foreign actors of meddling, but the US and EU have both expressed concern over the state of emergency’s impact on human rights. This is a developing story.
The full impact on the region is yet to be determined, but the signs point to a deepening crisis that could have implications for natural gas exports and diplomatic relations across South America. Sources confirm that British nationals already in Bolivia are being advised to leave if it is safe to do so. The Foreign Office has not commented on the number of UK citizens currently in the country.