Bolivia's Army Chief is Arrested Following Coup Attempt

• In a matter of hours, video footage emerged showing General Juan Jose Zuniga and his armored vehicles and troops surrounding the government seat of President Luis Arce.
• An attempted coup d'etat is currently threatening the country, as stated by Arce, according to a CNBC translation.
• Eduardo del Castillo, the Government Minister, later confirmed the arrest of Zuniga and Juan Arnez Salvador, a former navy Vice Admiral.

On Wednesday, the Bolivian government arrested the general accused of attempting a coup, following an hours-long siege by armed soldiers who invaded the national palace.

In a matter of hours, video footage emerged showing General Juan Jose Zuniga leading armored vehicles and troops towards the government seat of President Luis Arce, prompting the president to label the demonstration an attempted coup.

"Bolivia is currently facing an attempted coup d'etat, as stated by Arce, according to a CNBC translation. It is crucial for the people of Bolivia to unite and take action against the coup in support of democracy."

The top ministerial official Maria Nela Prada posted a video of the Plaza de Murillo, the central square of the government in La Paz, where she claimed that tanks and troops were behaving in an "irregular manner" while controlling access to the area.

The Bolivian people are alert and organizations are ready to defend democracy against this coup attempt and constitutional rupture, as we have always said, she stated.

The president appointed three new military commanders, including Jose Wilson Sanchez as the country's new military chief, and instructed the armed forces to stand down. The soldiers withdrew, allowing waves of Arce's supporters to pass. Defense Minister Edmundo Novillo later announced that the situation in the country's armed forces was under control after the appointment of a new commander.

Zuniga was detained by crowds following Bolivian Minister of Justice Ivan Lima's labeling of him as a "traitor" and the subsequent announcement of a penal investigation into the general.

Eduardo del Castillo, the Government Minister, later confirmed the arrest of Zuniga and Juan Arnez Salvador, a former navy Vice Admiral.

On Tuesday, Zuniga, who had been removed from his post, declared his intention to reform Bolivia's ministerial cabinet and invoked his patriotic duty to "recover" the country.

"Zuniga stated during the military movement, as translated by CNBC, "It is certain that a new cabinet will soon be formed. The military units are prepared and ready to act. All of the units," he said. "Our country cannot continue like this. Our politicians do whatever they want without any regard for the people. We are expressing our dissatisfaction. Our dissatisfaction is our duty and obligation as soldiers of our homeland, our armed forces, and the armies that this country has given birth to, which were created to restore our country. We will take it.""

Did the coup forces aim to seize the Bolivian presidential palace? The general affirmed "yes."

The recent coup is another setback for a country struggling with a severe economic crisis, which has been intensified by a shortage of U.S. dollars, high levels of public debt, and declining natural gas production. Despite this, the International Monetary Fund predicts that the country's economy will grow by 1.6% this year.

The international community rallied to condemn the apparent coup attempt.

Josep Borrell, the EU chief diplomat, condemned any attempt to undermine the constitutional order in Bolivia and overthrow democratically elected governments, and expressed the EU's solidarity with the Bolivian government and people on social media.

""Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemns military movements in Bolivia and calls for respect for democracy and the rule of law," according to a CNBC translation."

The military action was denounced by South American countries, including Venezuela, Paraguay, Cuba, and Chile.

We appreciate and thank the leaders of friendly nations and international organizations who publicly supported Bolivian democracy in the face of an attempted coup against our government, which was legitimately elected by the majority of Bolivians.