Bolivian authorities transferred General Juan José Zuñiga on Saturday to the maximum security El Abra prison as part of an ongoing investigation into his alleged leadership of a failed coup attempt against President Luis Arce’s government, Director of the Penitentiary System Juan Carlos Limpias told local media. Limpias said that prisoners at Chonchorro, where Zuñiga was originally detained, had targeted the general.
On Friday, the Fifth Anti-Corruption Court ruled that Zuñiga, along with Juan Arnez, former Navy commander, and Edison Irahola, former commander of the Army’s Mechanized Brigade, would be remanded to prison for six months while investigations are ongoing. These three high-ranking officers face serious charges of terrorism and armed insurrection against state security and sovereignty. If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison. In addition to these three, eighteen other active and retired military personnel and civilians have been arrested in connection with the coup attempt.
The general’s detention and transfer have been marked by unexpected turns. Initially slated for the high-security Chonchocoro prison in La Paz, Zuñiga was suddenly transferred to El Abra prison in Cochabamba. Before his transfer, Zuñiga made the surprising claim that he was following President Arce’s orders, alleging it was a “self-coup” designed to increase the president’s popularity. President Arce vehemently denied these accusations, asking, “How could one order or plan a coup against oneself?”
The coup attempt unfolded on Wednesday when Zuñiga led a military operation in which vehicles breached the presidential palace. The stated aim was to “change the cabinet” and “restore democracy” in Bolivia. The government swiftly denounced the troop movements and called for respect for democracy. Subsequently, Zuñiga was arrested for the attempted government takeover. The Bolivian government has since reported uncovering evidence of a broader plan behind the coup attempt. Interior Minister Eduardo Del Castillo revealed the discovery of a radiogram ordering the transfer of special forces from Tarija to La Paz by plane to execute the coup. These forces reportedly included high-ranking military personnel trained for high-risk operations.
This failed coup attempt has been widely condemned both within Bolivia and internationally. Leaders from neighboring and allied countries have voiced their support for democracy in Bolivia and condemned the attempted overthrow. These include Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Honduran President Xiomara Castro, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and Chilean President Gabriel Boric.
Furthermore, the Organization of American States (OAS) approved a resolution by acclamation “strongly condemning” the “illegal deployment of Army units” in Bolivia as “a threat to the constitutional regime” and “a flagrant insubordination to the orders of Constitutional President Luis Arce.” The OAS also expressed solidarity with the Bolivian people and government.
The incident occurs against a backdrop of rising tensions in Bolivia, fueled by increasing prices, dollar and fuel shortages, and a growing dispute between President Arce and former president Evo Morales ahead of the 2025 elections. As investigations continue, the country grapples with the aftermath of this failed coup attempt, highlighting the ongoing political instability in the region.
