See photos of the attempted coup in Bolivia

After Bolivia suffered an attempted coup d’état, President Luis Arce appointed three new chiefs of the country’s Armed Forces.

With the announcement, soldiers who invaded Palácio Quemado withdrew from the surrounding area.

The departure of troops from the capital La Paz was ordered by the new military leaders.

The soldiers had positioned themselves with armored tanks in Plaza Murillo, in front of the government headquarters.

Complaint and request for mobilization

Luis Arce denounced the mobilization of some army units, led by General Juan José Zuniga, warning of an attempted coup d’état.

“Today, the country is facing an attempted coup d’état. Today, the country is once again facing interests for democracy in Bolivia to be interrupted,” said the president in comments from the presidential palace, with armed soldiers outside.

“The Bolivian people are called together today. We need the Bolivian people to organize and mobilize against the coup d’état in favor of democracy”, said the Bolivian president.

The rebel general

Juan José Zuñiga has been commander-in-chief of the Bolivian Army since 2022.

On Monday (24), the military man made controversial statements against former Bolivian president Evo Morales, saying that Evo “can no longer be president of this country”.

The statements cost him his position. On Tuesday (25), he was fired. However, the military revolted against the Executive, leading the uprising.

The current president, Luis Arce, was Minister of Economy during the Morales government and, in 2020, was nominated to run for president.

Bolivia’s public prosecutor’s office said it would launch a criminal investigation into General Juan José Zuniga and other participants for leading what the government and international leaders have called an attempted coup.