President Luis Arce of Bolivia has condemned a “coup” attempt against the government and appealed for international support.
Bolivian armed forces withdrew from the presidential palace in La Paz on Wednesday evening, and a general was arrested following earlier dramatic events.
Earlier that day, military units under General Juan Jose Zuniga, who had recently been relieved of his command, assembled in Plaza Murillo, the central square housing the presidential palace and Congress.
According to a Reuters witness, an armored vehicle was seen ramming a door of the presidential palace, after which soldiers entered hastily.
“Today the country is facing an attempted coup d’état. Today the country faces once again interests so that democracy in Bolivia is cut short,” Arce declared from within the presidential palace, surrounded by armed soldiers. “The Bolivian people are summoned today. We need the Bolivian people to organise and mobilise against the coup d’état in favour of democracy.”
Inside the presidential palace, Arce swore in José Wilson Sanchez as the new military commander, filling Zuniga’s former role. He urged calm and the restoration of order. “I order that all personnel mobilised on the streets return to their units,” Sanchez said. “We entreat that the blood of our soldiers not be spilled.”
The United States declared it is closely monitoring the situation in Bolivia and urged for calm and restraint.
Tensions have been escalating in Bolivia ahead of the 2025 general elections, primarily between leftist ex-President Evo Morales, who plans to run against former ally Arce. This has caused a notable divide within the ruling socialist party and increased political uncertainty.
Morales’ potential return is contentious among many Bolivians, who remember his presidency from 2006 to 2019, marked by widespread protests that led to his replacement by an interim conservative government. Arce subsequently won the presidency in 2020.
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