Political Victory for Challa: Bolivia’s New Autonomous Territorial Entity

Political Victory for Challa: Bolivia's New Autonomous Territorial Entity

Written on 22 January 2026. Posted in Bolivia

BY BETZABE SACA CHOQUE FOR INDIGENOUS DEBATES

After years of advocacy, the Challa people have achieved a historic milestone towards their Original Autonomy with the approval of the Law Establishing the Challa Indigenous Peasant Territorial Unit. The Challa experience demonstrates that autonomy is not a concession, but a grassroots construction rooted in resistance and community unity. Challa is now on track to become the ninth Indigenous Autonomous Government within the Plurinational State of Bolivia.

The territory of Challa, which is part of the Soras Nation, comprises the Aransaya, Urinsaya, and Majasaya Ayllus (social/territorial divisions). It is rooted in ancestral traditions and features an organisation that integrates traditional authorities with a union structure across its 12 Indigenous Peasant Territorial Units (TIOC). In 2014, the communities collectively decided to establish an Original Government, exercise control over their territory, and strengthen their cultural identity based on their own norms and procedures.

In 2016, the traditional authorities began collecting formal agreements to initiate administrative procedures in accordance with state requirements. Thanks to this groundwork, in June 2018 the Promoting Commission formalised the request for autonomy by applying for the Certificate of Ancestral Territory Status and the Certificate of Governmental Viability from the Vice Ministry of Autonomies. Both certificates were granted in January 2020.

On 15 February 2020, more than 3,000 community members gathered at the Jacha Mara Tantachawi and voted "yes" for Indigenous Peasant Original Autonomy (AIOC). The Deliberative Assembly was then formed, initially comprising 45 primary Constituent Members (later expanded to 60) and 15 alternates. After years of debate, conciliation, socialisation, and consultation, the highest decision-making body, the Jacha Mara Tantachawi, approved the Autonomy Statute in December 2023. This decision was endorsed by more than 4,000 community members, assembled in the capital, Challa Lacuyo, of the Challa Original Autonomy (AOCH).

Delays in State Bureaucracy

In May 2024, representatives of the Challa Original Autonomy submitted the draft of the Law Establishing the Challa Indigenous Peasant Territorial Unit to the Plurinational Legislative Assembly. The draft law had been prepared by the Vice Ministry of Autonomies in collaboration with traditional authorities and supporting institutions. Through this submission, they entrusted the Assembly with enacting the law that would enable the territorial consolidation of Challa.

Following the formal handover of the draft law to the President of the Senate, Andrónico Rodríguez, the AIOC representatives held a ceremony featuring cultural performances and musical rhythms of the Challa Original People, including pinkillada, thurumeada, khonqoteada, and moseñada. Since then, the draft law has been subjected to numerous technical reviews and bureaucratic delays, both in the Senate and across other branches of the state apparatus.

Faced with persistent bureaucratic delays, the President of the Council of Authorities of the Challa Original Autonomy, Fabián Choque Cruz, explained: "After the initial submission, the commission's work concluded in late October 2024. All progress was nullified, as they were unable to address the observations. The draft law was then resubmitted to another Senate commission, headed by Senator Romaña."

The conclusion of the commission's work in October interrupted the progress that had been achieved, compelling the traditional authorities to resubmit the draft law. It was subsequently reviewed by the new Senate Commission on Territorial Organisation and State Autonomies. Progress has been slow due to constant technical observations and a lack of institutional clarity.

Bureaucratic Obstacle to Autonomy Rights

One of the most contentious points in the draft law was the redefinition of interdepartmental boundaries between Oruro and Cochabamba, a responsibility that lies with the governments of both departments. If unresolved, this issue would have directly affected the Challa territory, located precisely in this border area.

Throughout 2024, the traditional authorities of Challa facilitated dialogue and called for urgent attention to this matter, which falls outside their jurisdiction but affects the progress of the autonomy process. On 23 October, the issue was finally addressed with the approval of Law No. 127/2024-2025, the Law on Boundaries/Sections between the Department of Oruro, Municipality of Paria, and the Department of Cochabamba, Municipalities of Tacopaya, Tapacarí, and Bolívar. This provided territorial certainty and allowed the autonomy process to continue.

The second objection came from a report issued by the Ministry of Rural Development and Lands (MDRyT) and the National Institute of Agrarian Reform (INRA), which deemed the process "unfeasible" due to the alleged absence of the SAM-TIOC 369 executive title in their records. This title corresponds to the K'usilliri community, one of the 12 TIOCs comprising the Challa territory. The issue arose because there were two different numbers: one under the SAM-SIM 304 system and another updated under SAM-TIOC 369.

The inconsistency stemmed from outdated systems and a lack of coordination between state agencies, creating confusion regarding the numbering of titles issued under different administrations. However, thanks to technical dialogue tables involving the traditional authorities, the Vice Ministry of Autonomies, and supporting clarifying reports, it was demonstrated that there were no contradictions regarding the land's extent or its legal regularisation.

Political Victory for Challa: Bolivia's Ninth Indigenous Autonomy

On 30 October 2025, the Challa Original People achieved a historic milestone in the country's autonomy process. The approval of the Law Establishing the Challa Indigenous Peasant Territorial Unit consolidates a long-standing process of struggle, resistance, and collective construction. Despite some opposition from those who still fail to recognise that Indigenous autonomy extends far beyond mere economic management, the law was backed by a coalition of political forces in the Chamber of Deputies committed to the common good and respect for collective rights.

Challa's authorities were unequivocal: they do not seek handouts, but the full recognition of their right to self-government and self-determination. With the law providing legal backing, the Challa Original Autonomous Government (GAOCH) now enters a new phase of internal organisation, electing its leaders according to its own norms and procedures and implementing its Territorial Management Plan.

During the National Assembly of Indigenous Peasant Autonomies, held on 18-19 November, the National Coordinator of Indigenous Autonomies (CONAIOC) officially recognised the Challa Original Government as the ninth GAIOC of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. The resolution, approved by the Assembly, legitimises the bureaucratic process that the Challa territory successfully navigated, fully incorporating it into the network of already established autonomies.

The event brought together established GAIOCs such as Yura, Salinas, Charagua Iyambae, Kereimba Iyaambae, Raqaypampa, Huacaya, and Challa, as well as autonomies still in development, including Corque Marka, Totora I, and Oica Cavineño. The gathering highlighted that each new autonomy is celebrated as a collective achievement, reflecting persistence, political clarity, and commitment to building self-government. Amid words of congratulations, existing autonomies emphasised that the real challenge begins with the implementation of the Autonomy Statute.

Challa Territory Receives Its Territorial Unit Law

In one of the final acts of his administration, former President Luis Arce Catacora promulgated Law No. 1689, establishing the "Challa Indigenous Peasant Territorial Unit," on the night of 7 November. The delay underscores that Indigenous autonomy processes were not a priority during his government.

On 23 November, more than 3,000 Challa community members from the Urinsaya, Aransaya, and Majasaya ayllus celebrated the law that recognizes them as an autonomous entity-a struggle that has faithfully followed the mandate of the grassroots for years. Music, dance, wiphalas, and ceremonial staffs marked the celebration, signalling the start of a new phase. The community will now move forward with the electoral stage, following their Election Regulations for the Authorities who will form the Original Autonomous Government.

The consolidation of Indigenous Autonomies in Bolivia continues to be an unfinished task for the Plurinational State. Following the end of the left-wing period described as "Indigenous Power," only eight autonomies were able to fully establish themselves, leaving open questions about how the new centre-right government will assume responsibility for advancing the implementation of Indigenous self-governments.

Now more than ever, it is crucial to strengthen these experiences and support the genuine exercise of self-government, so that Bolivia's Indigenous Nations and Peoples can continue building their own systems of organisation, decision-making, and community life. The true Plurinational State will only be realised when self-determination moves beyond rhetoric and becomes a lived reality in the territories.

Betzabe Saca Choque holds a degree in Social Communication and coordinates the Land, Territory, and Human Rights Area at the Centre for Andean Communication and Development (CENDA).

Cover photo: Ceremony for the approval of the Autonomy Statute according to the community's own norms and procedures (2023). Photo: CENDA / Betzabe Saca Choque

Tags: Indigenous Debates