El Alto sub‑mayor office set ablaze amid protests, mayor says city moving toward normalcy

The Bolivian government condemned the arson and looting of the Subalcaldía in District 8 of El Alto, saying a police contingent was deployed to protect residents. Presidential spokesperson José Luis Gálvez said “we know of 60 to 70 people who are not from the neighbourhood… they took over the sub‑mayor’s office, stole its goods and set it on fire,” adding that the attackers appeared intent on hindering dialogue initiatives. Authorities reported hundreds of emergency calls from neighbours, identified suspects and opened investigations.

El Alto Mayor Eliser Roca announced that the city is gradually returning to normal after more than 40 days of blockades, though isolated protests persist in districts 7 and 14. He urged rural demonstrators not to cut water or electricity and highlighted that the Puente Vela fair in District 8 operated without incident. Roca quantified the economic damage at roughly 2 billion bolivianos and called for protesters to join the government‑ convened dialogue, stating, “Enough of the million‑dollar losses, now it is time to work.”