Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Soldiers overrun presidential palace in Bolivia coup

Bolivia’s president is urging citizens to defend democracy as the military overruns presidential palace.

• June 26, 2024
Bolivia's presidential Palace
Bolivia’s presidential Palace [Credit; Wikipedia]

The military in Bolivia rammed the presidential palace entrance in what appeared to be an attempted coup by a general, reports the New York Times.

According to the report, standing on the doorstep of the palace and surrounded by members of the armed forces, General Juan José Zúñiga claimed that the Bolivian Army, air force and navy were “mobilised.”

Meanwhile, Bolivia’s President Luis Arce urged citizens to take to streets to defend him against the composts, warning the country’s democracy is at stake after troops seized control of La Paz and military police overwhelmed the  presidential palace.

The coup attempt failed.

“The country is facing an attempted coup d’état,” Mr Arce, who was surrounded by his ministers, said in a video. “Here we are, firm in Casa Grande, to confront any coup attempt. We need the Bolivian people to organise.”

The Bolivian president added, “I am your captain, and I order you to withdraw your soldiers, and I will not allow this insubordination.”

In a message on X, Mr Arce declared, “We cannot allow, once again, coup attempts to take the lives of Bolivians.

Shortly after his rallying call in defence of democracy, Mr Arce announced new heads of the armed forces.

“I ordered all that are mobilised to return to their units. No one wants the images we’re seeing in the streets,” said the new army chief, José Wilson Sanchez.

Following the command, troops and armoured tanks began withdrawing from the presidential palace.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

NYSC Corp members used to illustrate the story.

Education

NYSC chief urges employers to prioritise corps members’ welfare

The director-general of the National Youth Service Corps, Olakunle Nafiu, has called on employers of corps members in Anambra to prioritise their welfare.

Osagie Ize-Iyamu

Politics

Ize-Iyamu rallies support for APC candidates 

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has urged his loyalists to support all the party’s candidates in the 2027 elections.

Vehicles driving in rain

States

FRSC urges motorists to observe safety measures during rainfall

The Federal Road Safety Corps has called on motorists to strictly observe safety measures during the rainy season in order to reduce road crashes.

Kaduna prison

States

Jobless woman jailed four years for possessing marijuana

A 35-year-old unemployed woman, Mercy Raymond, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for possessing five kilogrammes of marijuana.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Economy

UN forum discusses private sector’s role in achieving SDGs

The 2026 UN Global Business Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals has concluded, with participants calling for a greater role for the private sector in achieving the goals.

Damaged Air Peace plane

Hot news Home top

NAHCO vehicle collides with Air Peace plane at Lagos airport

Air Peace said the incident occurred after a baggage conveyor belt vehicle operated by NAHCO collided with one of the aircraft’s engines.