Bolivian President Luis Arce has appointed three new heads of the country's armed forces in response to an attempted coup that recently took place. The coup involved military units using armored vehicles to ram into the doors of Bolivia's government palace, leading to the arrest of an army general allegedly responsible for the incident.
President Arce made the announcement amidst a show of support from his followers, emphasizing the need for the Bolivian people to organize and stand against any coup attempts. He condemned the actions of the troops involved in the coup, stating that they were tarnishing the military's uniform.
The newly appointed army chief, José Wilson Sánchez, issued a directive for all mobilized troops to return to their units, urging them to refrain from engaging in any further disruptive activities. Following this order, troops began withdrawing from the presidential palace.
Arce personally confronted Army Gen. Juan José Zúñiga, who was implicated in leading the rebellion, and later arrested after an investigation was initiated against him by the attorney general. Zúñiga claimed that Arce had instructed him to storm the palace for political gain, an allegation that Arce vehemently denied.
The United States expressed concern over the situation in Bolivia and called for calm and restraint. The country has been grappling with economic challenges and political unrest, with protests intensifying in recent months.
The incident has sparked outrage among regional leaders and organizations, with calls for democracy to be upheld in Bolivia. The largest labor union in Bolivia condemned the coup attempt and declared an indefinite strike in support of the government.
Notable figures, including the Organization of American States, neighboring Chile's president, and former Bolivian leaders, have denounced the coup attempt. The region has witnessed similar political upheavals in the past, with the most recent occurring in Peru in 2022.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reiterated his commitment to democracy in Latin America and condemned any form of coup d'état in Bolivia, expressing solidarity with the Bolivian people.
