Bolivian President Luis Arce has announced the appointment of three new military chiefs following an attempted coup. The coup saw military units using armored vehicles to breach the doors of Bolivia’s government palace, leading to the arrest of the allegedly responsible army general.

President Arce, in a video message, affirmed the nation’s resolve against the coup attempt, emphasizing the need for the Bolivian people to organize in defense of democracy. “The country is facing an attempted coup d’état. Here we are, firm in Casa Grande, to confront any coup attempt,” he declared. 

Video footage showed troops setting up blockades outside the government palace, with Arce condemning the rebellious soldiers for tarnishing the military’s reputation. Newly appointed army chief José Wilson Sánchez ordered the mobilized troops to return to their units, stressing the importance of avoiding further unrest.

The situation escalated when Arce confronted Army Gen. Juan José Zúñiga, who was recently relieved of his command and appeared to be leading the coup. Zúñiga was arrested after the attorney general initiated an investigation against him. The specific charges were not immediately clear, but Zúñiga alleged that Arce had orchestrated the coup to boost his popularity.

Zúñiga claimed that Arce had instructed him to deploy armored vehicles in a staged political maneuver. “The president told me: ‘The situation is very critical. It is necessary to prepare something to raise my popularity’,” Zúñiga stated. 

President Arce took to social media to call for the respect of democracy. The United States, meanwhile, expressed its concern and urged calm and restraint.

The attempted coup comes amid escalating protests over Bolivia’s economic decline and internal divisions within the governing party. Arce and former President Evo Morales have been at odds over the direction of the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party ahead of the 2025 elections.

Bolivia’s largest labor union condemned the coup attempt, declaring an indefinite strike in La Paz to defend the government. The incident drew widespread condemnation from regional leaders, including the Organization of American States, Chilean President Gabriel Boric, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.