On June 27th, 2024, Bolivia was thrust into turmoil as two high-ranking army officials were arrested following a failed coup attempt that saw soldiers and tanks surround government buildings in La Paz.
President Luis Arce swiftly condemned the incident as an attack on democracy, drawing international condemnation and calls for calm.
The dramatic events unfolded in Plaza Murillo, a historic square in La Paz housing the presidential palace and Congress. Soldiers and tanks moved in, with one tank reportedly attempting to breach the presidential palace’s door. General Juan Jose Zuniga, the now-dismissed army chief, declared that the armed forces aimed to reform Bolivia’s democracy, criticizing decades-long rule by a few elites.
The situation escalated quickly, with troops and tanks eventually withdrawing from the square after about five hours. Zuniga, who had been addressing reporters outside a military barracks, was abruptly arrested and placed into a police car on live television.
Shortly after, Juan Arnez Salvador, head of the Bolivian navy, was also detained, accused by Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo of attempting to dismantle Bolivia’s democracy.
President Arce, addressing supporters from the government palace balcony, reaffirmed his commitment to democracy and urged Bolivians to mobilize against the coup attempt. He promptly fired Zuniga and Salvador, replacing them with new military leaders.
Before his arrest, Zuniga claimed that President Arce had encouraged him to stage the uprising to bolster his popularity amidst declining approval ratings. He alleged that Arce had authorized the deployment of armored vehicles, which Arce denied.
Former president Evo Morales, a significant figure in Bolivian politics, condemned the coup attempt on social media, warning of a brewing crisis and calling for national mobilization to defend democracy. Morales, Bolivia’s first Indigenous president, remains influential despite legal challenges barring him from the 2025 elections.
Bolivia has been grappling with political instability exacerbated by internal conflicts within the ruling Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party, led by President Arce and influenced by Morales. Morales, once immensely popular, faced protests and accusations of election fraud in 2019, leading to his resignation and temporary exile.
The power struggle between Morales and Arce has intensified, with Morales accusing the government of corruption and sidelining him politically. Tensions heightened six months ago when Bolivia’s Constitutional Court disqualified Morales from the upcoming elections, although he remains active in seeking political influence.
The United States, through the Biden administration, expressed concern over Bolivia’s political situation and called for calm. The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, echoed these sentiments, urging all parties, including the military, to uphold Bolivia’s constitutional order and maintain peace.
Leaders across Latin America, including Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil, condemned the coup attempt, emphasizing the importance of democracy in the region. Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva emphasized his commitment to democracy, denouncing any form of coup in Bolivia.
The Organization of American States (OAS) reiterated its support for Bolivia’s constitutional order, warning against any breach of democratic norms. The international community’s unified stance underscores the significance of preserving democratic institutions amidst political instability.