Amid coup fears in Bolivia, reports on social media emerged saying President Luis Arce has been arrested by soldiers in the presidential palace. The National Independent was cited by several users on X, platform formerly known as Twitter, as they reported about the arrest. However, no official has confirmed the reports.
Meanwhile, soldiers have stormed Bolivia’s presidential palace. Military tanks and multiple personnel were seen at the palace. Arce called on the armed forces to demobilise immediately and said he would address the nation.
Video on Bolivian television showed Luis Arce confronting general commander of the army, Juan Jose Zuniga, who has been dubbed as the mastermind of the coup attempt, in the palace hallway.
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“I am your captain, and I order you to withdraw your soldiers, and I will not allow this insubordination,” Arce said. Zuniga also addressed reporters. “Stop destroying, stop impoverishing our country, stop humiliating our army,” he said. "Surely soon there will be a new Cabinet of ministers; our country, our state cannot go on like this," he added.
Arce, meanwhile, called Bolivians to defend his government against the coup, saying that a coup attempt cannot be allowed to 'take lives of Bolivians." He sent out a video message where he was seen speaking surrounded by government officials.
"The Bolivian people are summoned today. We need the Bolivian people to organize and mobilize against the coup d'état, in favor of democracy. We cannot allow coup attempts to take Bolivian lives once again, Arce said.
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Bolivia is experiencing widespread protests as its economy declines sharply from being one of South America’s fastest-growing two decades ago to one of its most crisis-ridden today. Additionally, a high-profile rift within the ruling party, involving President Luis Arce and former President Evo Morales, has added to the government’s instability.