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2024 Bolivian coup attempt

Coordinates: 16°29′46″S 68°08′00″W / 16.49611°S 68.13333°W / -16.49611; -68.13333
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2024 Bolivian coup d'état attempt

Plaza Murillo being surrounded by soldiers during the coup attempt
Date26 June 2024
Location
La Paz, Bolivia
16°29′46″S 68°08′00″W / 16.49611°S 68.13333°W / -16.49611; -68.13333
Result Coup failed
  • President Arce orders soldiers to return to their barracks
  • Dismissal and replacement of Air Force, Army, and Navy heads
Belligerents

Government of Bolivia

Supported by:

 Bolivian Armed Forces

Commanders and leaders
President Luis Arce
Vice President David Choquehuanca
Defence Minister Edmundo Novillo
Minister of the Government Eduardo del Castillo
Former President Evo Morales[4]		 General Juan José Zúñiga (POW)
Vice Admiral Juan Arnez Salvador (POW)
Units involved
  • 24th Ranger Regiment Méndez Arcos Challapata
  • Military Police[7]
    • Casualties and losses
    9 civilians injured[8]

    On 26 June 2024, General Juan José Zúñiga, commander of the Bolivian Army, attempted a coup d'état by sending troops to seize Plaza Murillo in La Paz, the country's administrative capital, and storm the Casa Grande del Pueblo, the presidential palace. The previous day, President Luis Arce had relieved Zúñiga of his post due to alleged threats made against former president Evo Morales.

    Arce broadcasted his concerns about an ongoing coup, which was followed by similar condemnations from across the Bolivian political spectrum. Anti-coup protestors took to the streets, and the Bolivian Workers' Center, the country's largest trade union federation, announced a general strike.

    The coup attempt ended after Arce personally confronted Zúñiga in the presidential palace. Zúñiga, along with the heads of the Air Force and Navy, was immediately dismissed. The new Army commander, José Wilson Sánchez, then ordered troops back to their barracks. The coup attempt received widespread international condemnation.

    Background

    On 25 June, the day before the coup attempt, General Juan José Zúñiga, commander of the Army, was relieved of his post due to statements he had made against former president Evo Morales. According to Morales, Zúñiga had allegedly threatened him, Senate President Andrónico Rodríguez, and Senator Leonardo Loza [es].[9] During an interview, Zúñiga announced that the Bolivian Armed Forces would arrest Morales if he ran in the next presidential elections in 2025.[10]

    Military action

    State media agency ABI reported that the mobilization began around 2:30 p.m. BOT.[11] Bolivian television showed video footage of two tanks and numerous military personnel at Plaza Murillo in front of Casa Grande del Pueblo, the presidential palace in La Paz.[12] Zúñiga was present in the square and made a statement on a local TV station, saying, "The three chiefs of the armed forces have come to express our dismay. There will be a new cabinet of ministers; surely things will change, but our country cannot continue like this any longer."[3][13] He also announced that "political prisoners," including former president Jeanine Áñez, would be released.[14]

    BBC reports showed an armored vehicle ramming the gate of Casa Grande del Pueblo, with soldiers storming the interior of the building. Morales stated that a group from the Méndez Arcos Challapata Special Regiment had taken over Plaza Murillo with the assistance of snipers.[14] Simultaneously, Arce made a broadcast from inside the palace, calling on the population to mobilize against the coup to protect democracy and Bolivian lives.[3]

    Residents in La Paz rushed to currency exchanges, financial institutions such as banks, as well as shopping centers, pharmacies, markets, supermarkets, and vehicle refueling stations. Similar scenes were reported across the country.[15]

    Minister of Government Eduardo del Castillo approached one of the armored vehicles to demand that the soldiers disembark, and asked a colonel to explain their presence there.[16]

    Televised footage showed Arce confronting Zúñiga in the presidential palace hallway, telling him, "I am your captain, and I order you to withdraw your soldiers. I will not tolerate this insubordination."[17]

    Arce, along with his entire cabinet, addressed the nation from Casa Grande del Pueblo, mobilizing protesters.[18] A group of demonstrators surrounded several streets leading to Plaza Murillo, chanting in support of the Arce government. The military deployed tear gas.[19] The Bolivian Workers' Center, the country's main trade union federation, condemned the coup attempt and announced an immediate and indefinite strike.

    During the coup attempt, Arce announced new heads of the Bolivian Army, Navy, and Air Force, while condemning the troops who had risen against him as "staining the uniform." He appointed José Wilson Sánchez as the new Army chief, who ordered all participating troops to return to their barracks.[20] Gerardo Zavala Álvarez was appointed as the chief of the Bolivian Air Force, and Renán Guardia Ramírez as the chief of the Bolivian Navy.[21] Troops and armored vehicles departed from the presidential palace shortly after.[13]

    Aftermath

    On the evening of 26 June, Bolivian police arrested Zúñiga.[5] The Bolivian public prosecutor's office stated that it would criminally investigate the coup plotters.[22]

    After being arrested, Zúñiga declared that on 23 June, he met with Luis Arce, who allegedly ordered him to take tanks to the streets to carry out an attempted self-coup, since "it was necessary to prepare something to raise his popularity."[23][24]

    After the statements, former commander Zúñiga was taken to the offices of the Special Force to Fight Crime (FELCC), in La Paz. Later, Zúñiga was presented to the Bolivian press as a "criminal", the Minister of Government, Eduardo Del Castillo, presented a report of the events described by the Executive Branch as a "frustrated coup".[6]

    Vice Admiral Juan Arnez Salvador, former commander general of the Armed Forces, was also detained. Zúñiga and Salvador were accused of armed uprising, attack against the president, destruction of public property, and various other crimes.[25]

    Reactions

    Domestic

    President Arce called for "democracy to be respected" in a public statement[26] and later expressed thanks to the Bolivian people following the failure of the coup.[22] Evo Morales made a public statement denouncing the military mobilization[27] and accused Zúñiga of attempting a coup through intimidating citizens and violating democracy. Morales also recommended that roadways be blocked while announcing a general strike.[28]

    Minister of the presidency María Nela Prada called the mobilization in the public square an "attempted coup d'état", and stated on local television station Red Uno de Bolivia that "the people are on alert to defend democracy".[29] Senator Virginia Velasco Condori [es], who served as minister of justice under Evo Morales, spoke to reporters outside the Plurinational Legislative Assembly accusing Morales of being behind the coup attempt.[30]

    Former presidents of Bolivia Jorge Quiroga and Jeanine Áñez released individual statements opposing the coup attempt and calling for voters to replace the Bolivian political leadership in the 2025 Bolivian general election.[31]

    International

    Opposed to coup attempt

    Organization of American States Secretary General Luis Almagro showed solidarity with Arce's government while condemning the Bolivian Army's actions.[30]

    Heads of states of Ibero-America such as Brazil,[32] Chile,[33] Colombia,[34] Costa Rica,[35] Cuba,[36] Guatemala,[37] Honduras,[38] Mexico,[39] Nicaragua,[40] Panama,[41] Paraguay,[42] Peru,[43] Spain,[44] Uruguay[45] ,Venezuela[46] and Russia[47] condemned the coup attempt, as did the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union Josep Borrell and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.[48][49]

    Neutral

    President of Argentina Javier Milei was said to be "waiting for the situation to be clarified" before giving an official statement.[50] The United States called for calm and restraint, with a White House spokesperson saying that the Biden administration was monitoring developments.[51]

    See also

    References

    1. ^ https://buenosairesherald.com/world/latin-america/bolivias-president-arce-reports-irregular-military-maneuvers Bolivia’s Arce changes military high command after attempted coup
    2. ^ "COB denuncia "asalto a la democracia" y anuncia huelga indefinida". Opinión (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
    3. ^ a b c d Ramos, Daniel (26 June 2024). "Bolivia armed forces mobilize in La Paz as coup fears rise". Reuters. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
    4. ^ https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2024/06/26/evo-morales-convoco-a-una-movilizacion-para-defender-la-democracia-frente-al-golpe-de-estado/ Evo Morales convocó a una movilización “para defender la democracia frente al golpe de Estado”
    5. ^ a b Vock, Ido; Armstrong, Kathryn (26 June 2024). "Bolivian police arrest leader of coup attempt". BBC News. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
    6. ^ a b "Del Castillo presenta a Zúñiga en la FELCC, lo llamó "delincuente"". El País Tarija (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 June 2024.
    7. ^ "Fears of Coup attempt in Bolivia as soldiers storm presidential palace". Al Jazeera. 26 June 2024.
    8. ^ https://www.lisanews.org/actualidad/como-ha-sido-el-intento-de-golpe-de-estado-de-bolivia/ ¿Cómo ha sido el intento de golpe de Estado de Bolivia?
    9. ^ "Reportan que el comandante del Ejército, Juan José Zúñiga, fue relevado de su cargo, tras polémicas declaraciones". Visión 360 (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
    10. ^ "Bolivia: quién es Juan José Zúñiga, el General que desafió el orden constitucional | Intento de golpe de Estado". PAGINA12 (in Spanish). 26 June 2024. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
    11. ^ Alvarado, Abel; John, Tara (26 June 2024). "Bolivia's president denounces 'irregular mobilization' of military". CNN. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
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    24. ^ ""Arce me ordenó sacar los blindados para levantar su popularidad", acusa el general Zúñiga tras ser detenido por el intento de golpe de Estado en Bolivia". Latinus. 26 June 2024. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
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    31. ^ "Global reaction to armed forces mobilizing in Bolivia". Reuters. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
    32. ^ "Lula condenó el levantamiento armado en Bolivia: "En América Latina los golpes nunca funcionaron"". infobae (in European Spanish). 26 June 2024. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
    33. ^ Mora, Helen (26 June 2024). "Presidente Gabriel Boric condena "intento de golpe de Estado" en Bolivia y solidariza con gobierno legítimo de Luis Arce". La Tercera. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
    34. ^ "Gustavo Petro reacciona a intento de golpe de Estado en Bolivia y lanza dura advertencia". El País (in Spanish). 26 June 2024. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
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    39. ^ Martínez, Por Mariana L. (26 June 2024). "AMLO condena el intento de golpe de Estado en Bolivia". infobae (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
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    46. ^ Phillips, Tom (26 June 2024). "Bolivia's president urges citizens to take to streets to defend against apparent coup". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
    47. ^ Presse, AFP-Agence France. "Russia 'Strongly Condemns Attempted Military Coup' In Bolivia". www.barrons.com. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
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    49. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
    50. ^ Alvez, Julián (26 June 2024). "Mondino repudió el intento de golpe de Estado en Bolivia: "La democracia no se negocia"". www.cronista.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
    51. ^ "Bolivia's Arce faces off with army amid attempted coup". Al Jazeera. 26 June 2024. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
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