By Micah Jonah, February 20, 2026
Former Bolivian president, Evo Morales has reappeared in his political stronghold nearly seven weeks after an unexplained absence that sparked widespread rumours and speculation about his whereabouts.
Morales made his public return on Thursday in the central Chapare region, arriving by tractor at a stadium in the town of Chimore to address supporters and endorse candidates for next month’s regional elections. Footage released by his coca-growing union’s media outlet showed him smiling and greeting crowds, signalling the end of intense rumours that he had fled Bolivia in the wake of political tensions in the region.
The 66-year-old former socialist leader said he had been absent due to a battle with chikungunya, a mosquito-borne illness that causes fever and severe joint pain, and suffered complications that “caught me by surprise.” He appeared more frail than in previous public appearances.
Addressing speculation that he might escape the country amid legal threats, Morales firmly rejected the claims. He vowed to remain in Bolivia despite an outstanding arrest warrant related to human trafficking charges, which he has repeatedly denied. “Some media said, ‘Evo is going to leave, Evo is going to flee.’ I said clearly: I am not going to leave. I will stay with the people to defend the homeland,” he said.
Morales, Bolivia’s first Indigenous president who served from 2006 until his controversial ouster and subsequent self-exile in 2019, has remained a polarising figure in Bolivian politics. His Movement Toward Socialism party dominated the country for nearly two decades before conservative President Rodrigo Paz took office last October, ending that long era of governance.
Analysts say Morales’ reappearance may calm some of the political anxiety surrounding his unexplained absence, but questions remain about his future role in Bolivian politics and how ongoing legal challenges will shape his standing ahead of critical regional elections.
Morales’s return expose the deep fault lines in Bolivia’s political landscape and highlights the enduring influence he continues to wield among his supporters.
Former Bolivian president, Evo Morales has reappeared in his political stronghold nearly seven weeks after an unexplained absence that sparked widespread rumours and speculation about his whereabout.
