Bolivia's former president, Evo Morales, has not been seen in public for nearly a month, prompting speculation about his whereabouts. The socialist leader, who has been evading an arrest warrant on human trafficking charges, missed his weekly radio show for the fourth consecutive week and failed to attend a traditional back-to-school ceremony.
Morales's close associates say he is recovering from dengue fever, a viral illness with symptoms that typically last less than a week. However, they have declined to provide further details. The former president's social media activity has also ceased, and planned meetings with coca-leaf growers in the Chapare region have been cancelled.
Rumours have spread online, with some suggesting Morales may have left the country. Right-wing lawmaker Edgar Zegarra claimed without evidence that Morales is in Mexico. Police Commander General Mirko Sokol stated that Morales has not left Bolivia through official channels.
Morales, Bolivia's first Indigenous president, served from 2006 to 2019 before resigning amid protests over a disputed election. He returned from exile in 2020 after his former finance minister, Luis Arce, became president. The current government, led by centrist President Rodrigo Paz, has sought to reverse Morales's policies, including restoring ties with the United States.
