Bolivian general arrested after failed coup attempt against President Arce

Bolivian forces arrested the army commander who led an attempted coup against President Luis Arce on Wednesday, shortly after rebel soldiers besieged the government headquarters for hours and attempted to breach the one of its doors.

At the end of a frantic day, General Juan José Zúñiga was arrested in front of a military barracks in La Paz and taken in a police vehicle on charges of terrorism and armed uprising, according to the prosecutor's office. “You are under arrest, General! said Deputy Government Minister (Interior) Jhonny Aguilera, according to images from state television.

Surrounded by about eight armored vehicles, Zúñiga led the uniformed men who attempted to break into the presidential palace in downtown La Paz. His men used tear gas against people who tried to approach the building. The officer entered through the same door that one of the combat vehicles had attempted to break down. He left shortly after by the same means.

“We are facing an attempted coup by military personnel who are soiling the uniform,” Arce said as he inducted the new high command of the armed forces at the palace, which at that time was surrounded by Zúñiga's troops.

After their withdrawal, the president went out to the balcony to address hundreds of supporters: “No one can take away the democracy we have won (…). We are sure: we will continue and we will continue to work.

The government and former President Evo Morales, Arce's former ally and now political rival, had called for mobilization in response to the military uprising. On his social networks, the former Bolivian president suspended the call after “calm returned to the seat of government”.

The underlying political struggle

Since Tuesday, rumors had been circulating about the probable dismissal of Zúñiga, who had commanded the army since 2022. The officer had expressed his strong opposition to the possible return to power of Morales, who competes with Arce for the leadership of the ruling party. presidential elections of 2025.

In an interview with a television channel on Monday, he even assured that he would arrest Morales if he insisted on running for president next year. Hence the surprise caused by his attempted coup against Arce. At the time of his arrest, the general told the press that the president had asked him on Sunday to “prepare something” to increase his popularity.

According to Zúñiga, Arce affirmed that “the situation is very complicated” and justified action that would be favorable to him. Arce and Morales have been engaged in an intense political fight for several years.

Supported by the constitutional reforms he himself promoted, Morales held the presidency between 2006 and 2019, when he was forced to resign, harassed by the crisis that erupted following allegations of electoral fraud to obtain a fourth term.

Late last year, the Constitutional Court disqualified Morales from his candidacy, which the former president interpreted as a move against him by his former economy minister.

The government wing of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) proclaimed Arce as a candidate for 2025. Another sector supported the aspirations of Morales, who still has not given up on his ambitions despite the judges' decision. Arce, for his part, has not yet declared his candidacy.

International reaction

Several governments and international entities spoke during the day. The United States called for “calm” and assured that it was “closely monitoring the situation,” according to a statement from a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned “any form of coup d’état” in Bolivia on the social network X. For his part, UN Secretary General António Guterres said he was “very concerned” by “allegations of attempted coup”. » and called on all actors “to protect the constitutional order and preserve a climate of peace”, reported its spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric.

The Organization of American States (OAS) has warned that it “will not tolerate any form of violation of the constitutional order” in Bolivia. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro immediately denounced the attempt to overthrow one of his main allies in the region.

“To the Bolivian people, all the support of the people of Bolívar. No to fascism, no to putschists,” expressed the leader, declaring himself in “emergency and permanent support” to the Bolivians.