2008 Bolivian political crisis

2008 Bolivian political crisis
Protesters supporting the autonomy of Santa Cruz. Autonomy movements also took place in other Eastern Bolivian departments.
Date August 2008 – October 2008 Location Santa Cruz Department and other eastern Bolivian ones Result Referendum held, crisis ends
Belligerents
Bolivia Armed Forces of Bolivia Morales supporters	Media Luna Santa Cruz Pando Beni Tarija
Commanders and leaders
Evo Morales	Rubén Costas

Politics of Bolivia
Constitution History Human rights
Executive President (list) Luis Arce Vice President David Choquehuanca Cabinet of Bolivia
Legislative Plurinational Legislative Assembly Chamber of Senators President of the Senate Chamber of Deputies President of the Chamber of Deputies
Judiciary Supreme Tribunal of Justice Constitutional Tribunal Supreme Court (1825–2012)
Elections Plurinational Electoral Organ Political parties Recent elections 2025 (general) 2021 (regional) 2020 (general) 2019 (general) Recent referendums 2016 (constitution) 2009 (constitution) 2008 (autonomy) 2008 (confidence vote)
Administrative divisions Departments Provinces Municipalities
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chancellor of Bolivia: Rogelio Mayta Diplomatic missions of / in Bolivia Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
Bolivia portal Other countries
v t e

The 2008 Bolivian political crisis saw protests against President Evo Morales and calls for greater autonomy for the country's eastern departments. Demonstrators escalated the protests by seizing natural gas infrastructure and government buildings. In response, supporters of the national government and its reform of the constitution, mobilized across these regions.

Violence between supporters of Morales and opponents, which reached its peak in the Porvenir massacre on September 11, resulted in at least 15 deaths.^[1]