Bolivia expelled Colombian ambassador Elizabeth García on Wednesday (May 20), declaring her "persona non grata" after Colombian President Gustavo Petro described Bolivian protests as a "popular insurrection" against Rodrigo Paz's government. Bolivian Foreign Minister Fernando Aramayo justified the measure citing "persistent public statements by President Gustavo Petro and interference in Bolivian internal politics." ✓
Press quotes (2)
"O Ministério das Relações Exteriores da Bolívia anunciou nesta quarta-feira (20/05) a expulsão da embaixadora da Colômbia credenciada no país, Elizabeth García"
"Ao canal Unitel, o ministro disse que a embaixadora foi declarada "persona non grata" devido às "insistentes declarações públicas do presidente Gustavo Petro e interferência na política interna boliviana, assim como o endosso feito pelo movimento político que desestabiliza a democracia"."
Petro had posted on Sunday (May 17) on social media X that "Bolivia lives a popular insurrection" as a "response to geopolitical arrogance," offering Colombian government mediation "if invited" to seek "peaceful formulas for ending the Bolivian political crisis." The following day, the Colombian president asked the United States to "not attack former president Evo Morales" and not confuse "the social struggle of coca leaf-growing peasants with drug trafficking." ✓
Press quotes (3)
""Bolivia vive una insurrección popular. Es la respuesta a la soberbia geopolítica", escribió Petro en su cuenta de X"
"El mandatario colombiano aseguró además que su Gobierno está dispuesto, "si es invitado", a "buscar fórmulas pacíficas de salida a la crisis política boliviana"."
""Peço ao governo dos Estados Unidos que não ataque o ex-presidente Evo Morales. Não confunda a luta social dos camponeses cultivadores de folha de coca com o tráfico de drogas. Aguarde a conclusão do painel de especialistas da ONU""
The Bolivian crisis intensified after two weeks of road blockades led by the Bolivian Workers' Central (COB), peasant unions and miners, which emptied markets in La Paz, depleted hospital oxygen reserves and caused at least three deaths after emergency vehicles were blocked from reaching medical centers. The protests began in response to Law 1720, implemented on April 10, which allowed small agricultural properties to be used as collateral for bank loans — a law Paz repealed on May 13, but protests continued with demands for presidential resignation. ✓
Press quotes (3)
"Two weeks of road closures — spearheaded by the Bolivian Workers' Central, COB, peasant unions and miners — have emptied markets in La Paz and depleted vital hospital oxygen reserves. The government reported that at least three people died after emergency vehicles were blocked from reaching medical centers."
"Law 1720, which was put into effect on 10 April, allowed titled small agricultural property to be voluntarily converted into medium property upon written request and a sworn declaration, making the land to be used as collateral for bank loans"
"Even though Paz annulled the land mortgage law on 13 May, the protests continued to spread. Later in the day on 15 May, the focus of the protests turned to demanding Paz's resignation."
The Bolivian government assured that the ambassador's expulsion "does not constitute a rupture of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Colombia," citing the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations as legal foundation for the measure. Paz assumed the presidency in November 2025 after an electoral victory by the Christian Democratic Party that ended nearly two decades of MAS (Movement for Socialism) governments, but inherits an economy in crisis with fuel shortages and inflation that reached about 20% last year. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"La medida fue oficializada mediante un comunicado del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Bolivia, en el que el Gobierno de Rodrigo Paz Pereira aseguró que la decisión se tomó "en ejercicio de sus atribuciones soberanas y en estricto apego al derecho internacional y a la Convención de Viena sobre Relaciones Diplomáticas de 1961"."
"Paz reiterates that he inherited a 'bankrupt state,' yet his adversaries reproach him for his sluggish response to the worst crisis in 40 years — marked by fuel shortages and an inflation rate that hovered near 20% last year."
Petro posted on May 17 that Bolivia experiences a 'popular insurrection'
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (2)
Protests resulted in three deaths due to blocking of emergency vehicles
Rodrigo Paz took office after Christian Democratic Party victory that quickly fractured in legislature
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What will be Colombia's diplomatic response to the ambassador's expulsion?
Why it's still unknown: The official reaction from the Colombian government has not yet been released
Did not cover: Uol Opera Mundi Caracol Radio Infobae -
How will the OAS Security Council meeting address the Bolivian crisis?
Why it's still unknown: The convocation was announced but details of the agenda and member countries' positions were not reported
Did not cover: Ap News Wikipedia -
What is the specific nature of US allegations against Evo Morales related to drug trafficking?
Why it's still unknown: Sources mention a possible request for information from the Paz government to the US about Morales, but do not detail specific allegations
Did not cover: Ap News Wikipedia Caracol Radio