Bolivia - June 2024

On 26 June, Juan José Zúñiga, a former army chief and general, led other former commanders and members of the military in occupying Plaza Murillo, the main square in La Paz where the offices of the executive and legislature are located.  Zúñiga and armed supporters had entered the square with armoured vehicles.   Zúñiga had been dismissed as army chief a day earlier, after stating he would block any bid from former President Evo Morales to run for re-election in 2025. President Luis Arce confronted  Zúñiga and accused him of leading a coup.  Zúñiga was arrested by police the same day, along with others who participated in the occupation of Plaza Murillo.  Zúñiga, who has been charged with several crimes, has given conflicting remarks regarding his motivations, first alleging his attempt was to free political prisoners and improve conditions for Bolivians, but later suggesting that it had been President Arce who had staged the events of 26 June, as a ploy to boost his approval ratings. 

Sources: Agencia Boliviana de información, CNN, El Pais