Juan José Zúñiga

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Zúñiga and the second or maternal family name is Macias.

Juan José Zúñiga
Juan José Zúñiga in 2022.
Commanding General of the Bolivian Army
In office
1 November 2022 – 26 June 2024
PresidentLuis Arce
Succeeded byJosé Wilson Sánchez
Personal details
BornUncía, Potosí, Bolivia[1]
Military service
Allegiance Bolivia
Branch/service Bolivian Army
RankGeneral

Juan José Zúñiga Macías is a former Bolivian Army officer who served as the General of the Bolivian Army from November 2022 until his dismissal in June 2024 following his role in the coup d'état attempt against the President Luis Arce.[2][3]

Early life and military career

Early life

Juan Zúñiga Macías was born in Uncía municipality, Bolivia.[4][5] After finishing primary and secondary education, he entered the Bolivian Army and graduated in 1990, placing 48th out of 65 officers.[6][7]

Military career

Zúñiga served as colonel of the REIM-23 Max Toledo regiment between 2012 and 2013. He was charged with the embezzlement of Bs2.7 million intended for the Renta Dignidad and Juancito Pinto cash transfer schemes and well for traveling abroad without permission during his tenure and was tortured for seven days.[8][9][10] He subsequently worked as a police officer.[11]

After serving as Chief of Staff and brigadier general, Zúñiga was appointed as commanding general of the Bolivian Army through a decree by Luis Arce on 1 November 2022.[12][13][14]

Conflict with Evo Morales

On 24 June 2024, Zuñiga announced that the Bolivian Armed Forces would arrest former President Evo Morales if he ran as a candidate in the next presidential elections in 2025.[15] In threats made against Morales, he described the former president as a "traitor" and accused him of plotting a revolution against the current government, while stating that the Constitution of Bolivia would prevent Morales from returning to power.[4][16] Following Zuñiga's proclamation, he was relieved of his post of commanding general on 25 June 2024.[4][16]

Prior to this event, Zuñiga was accused by Evo Morales of being the commander of the military organization Pachajcho, allegedly plotting to eliminate the former president as part of a "black plan" against coca production leaders and political opponents.[4][8][9]

2024 coup attempt

Detained Zúñiga after the 2024 coup attempt

He was the primary leader behind the 2024 Bolivian coup attempt on 26 June, attempting to "restore democracy".[17] President Luis Arce called on Zúñiga to demobilize soldiers who had taken over the main square of La Paz.[18] Zúñiga was detained by police soon after.[19] Zúñiga claimed that on 23 June—before the events had begun, which led to his arrest—he had met with Luis Arce; Zúñiga alleged that during their meeting, Arce had stated that to boost his popularity, he would attempt a self-coup; Zúñiga alleged that Arce had ordered Zúñiga to assist in this self-coup by deploying tanks into the streets.[2][3]

As of 28 June 2024, Zúñiga and several other suspects in the coup attempt are currently detained in the Chonchocoro maximum-security prison outside La Paz following an order for their six-month pre-trial detention.[20][21]

References

  1. ^ "Juan José Zúñiga, el general que odia a Evo Morales y dice escuchar la voz de Dios". El País (in Spanish). 26 June 2024. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Antes de ser detenido, Juan José Zúñiga sugirió que se trató de un 'autogolpe': "El domingo me reuní con Arce"". infobae (in European Spanish). 26 June 2024. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b ""Arce me ordenó sacar los blindados para levantar su popularidad", acusa el general Zúñiga tras ser detenido por el intento de golpe de Estado en Bolivia". Latinus (in Spanish). 26 June 2024. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "El comandante del Ejército de Bolivia fue destituido tras amenazar a Evo Morales: "No puede ser más presidente de este país"". El País (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  5. ^ swissinfo.ch, S. W. I. (27 June 2024). "Zuñiga, el jefe militar acusado de un "intento de golpe de Estado" que amenazó a Morales". SWI swissinfo.ch (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  6. ^ swissinfo.ch, S. W. I. (27 June 2024). "Zuñiga, el jefe militar acusado de un "intento de golpe de Estado" que amenazó a Morales". SWI swissinfo.ch (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Bolivia: Zuñiga, el militar acusado de"intento de golpe de Estado"". EFE Noticias (in European Spanish). 27 June 2024. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Él es Juan José Zúñiga, general del Ejército de Bolivia que estaría detrás de intento de golpe de Estado". milenio.com (in Spanish).
  9. ^ a b "Juan José Zúñiga: Meet The Mastermind Of Bolivia Coup". 27 June 2024. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Who is General Zúñiga, the shadowy officer behind the thwarted coup in Bolivia?". AP News. 27 June 2024. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Who is General Zúñiga, the shadowy officer behind the thwarted coup in Bolivia?". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Zuñiga, el nuevo Comandante del Ejército y exjefe de Inteligencia que "sabe mucho" de Evo y Arce". urgente.bo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2 November 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  13. ^ Padinger, Germán (26 June 2024). "¿Quién es el general Juan José Zúñiga Macías, el señalado líder del "intento de golpe de Estado" en Bolivia?". CNN (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Gaceta Oficial del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia". gacetaoficialdebolivia.gob.bo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Bolivia: quién es Juan José Zúñiga, el General que desafió el orden constitucional | Intento de golpe de Estado". PAGINA12 (in Spanish). 26 June 2024. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Reportan que el comandante del Ejército, Juan José Zúñiga, fue relevado de su cargo, tras polémicas declaraciones" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  17. ^ Vock, Ido. "Bolivia: Soldiers storm presidential palace in apparent coup attempt". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Bolivia president Arce orders general to call off military action". Reuters. Reuters. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  19. ^ "Attempted coup in Bolivia fails after president calls on country to mobilize in defense of democracy". CNN. CNN. 27 June 2024. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  20. ^ "Suspected leaders of failed Bolivian coup remanded in six-month custody". France 24. 29 June 2023. Archived from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  21. ^ "Bolivian general accused of failed coup is transferred to a maximum-security prison". Associated Press. 30 June 2023. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2023.