Bolivia Protests Escalate with Dynamite Use as Government Rejects Resignation Calls

Bolivia's economy has deteriorated sharply after years of declining natural gas output. Once a leading exporter, the country now imports more oil and gas than it sells abroad, a shift driven by shrinking reserves and falling production. The resulting shortage of foreign currency has fueled inflation, limited fuel availability and caused shortages of basic medicines and oxygen in hospitals. In response, miners, farmers, teachers and rural unions have staged weeks of road blockades and urban demonstrations, demanding action on fuel subsidies, welfare benefits and agrarian reform. Earlier on Thursday, a group of 20 miners met with President Rodrigo Paz at the presidential palace to discuss those issues, after which the government said it remained open to dialogue.

On Thursday, miners set off small sticks of dynamite, causing explosions heard during a protest in La Paz. Mauricio Zamora, Bolivia's minister of public works, services and housing, stated that President Rodrigo Paz will not resign. Bolivia has shifted from being a major natural gas exporter to a net importer of oil and gas due to shrinking reserves and plummeting production.

The introduction of explosives into protests marks a notable escalation in tactics, suggesting that traditional pressure methods such as road blockades are insufficient for some demonstrators. Continued dependence on imported fuel is likely to keep retail prices high, which could sustain or increase public dissatisfaction unless alternative revenue streams are developed. The administration's firm stance that the president will stay in office may deepen the standoff between authorities and protest organizers, potentially leading to further confrontations or negotiations.