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Bolivia Military

Bolivia Coup Attempt Fails as Armed Forces Retreat from Presidential Palace; General Arrested

Bolivian President Luis Arce thwarted an attempted coup as military units led by General Juan Jose Zuniga briefly occupied Plaza Murillo.

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Nitish Verma
New Update
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Bolivian President Luis Arce declared that a coup attempt had been thwarted on Wednesday evening, after military units led by General Juan Jose Zuniga gathered in the central Plaza Murillo square, home to the presidential palace and Congress. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and raised concerns about the stability of the country's democracy.

According to eyewitnesses, an armored vehicle rammed a door of the presidential palace, and soldiers rushed in. However, a few hours later, the soldiers withdrew from the square, and police took control of the plaza. General Zuniga was arrested and taken away, although his destination remains unclear.

President Arce, who was inside the presidential palace, slammed the attempted coup and called for international support. "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," he said. He also urged the Bolivian people to organize and mobilize against the coup attempt in favor of democracy.

The United States has expressed concern over the situation, urging calm and restraint. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from regional leaders and beyond, with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador expressing the strongest condemnation of the attempted coup.

Why it Matters : The attempted coup comes at a critical time for Bolivia, with general elections scheduled for 2025. The incident has highlighted the deepening political divisions in the country, particularly between President Arce and former President Evo Morales, who is planning to run against him in the upcoming elections. The rift between the two leaders has created uncertainty and raised concerns about the stability of the country's democracy.

The incident has also sparked concerns about the role of the military in Bolivian politics. General Zuniga's actions have been seen as a challenge to the authority of the democratically elected government, and his arrest has been welcomed by many as a step towards maintaining democracy.

Key Takeaways :

  • Bolivian President Luis Arce foils coup attempt, General Juan Jose Zuniga arrested amid political turmoil.
  • The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from regional leaders and beyond, with the US urging calm and restraint.
  • The attempted coup comes at a critical time for Bolivia, with general elections scheduled for 2025.
  • The incident has highlighted the deepening political divisions in the country, particularly between President Arce and former President Evo Morales.
  • The role of the military in Bolivian politics has come under scrutiny, with General Zuniga's actions seen as a challenge to the authority of the democratically elected government.