South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has demanded the immediate release of abducted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, condemning the U.S. military operation carried out in Caracas on January 3 by American elite forces.
Ramaphosa’s stance aligns with South Africa’s position at the UN Security Council yesterday, where he urged the Council, vested with authority under the UN Charter, to call for Maduro’s release and restore Venezuela’s sovereignty. “We reiterate our call for decisive action by the United Nations Security Council to fulfill its mandate and advance peace and security,” he said.
During an address at Heroes’ Acre in Soweto at the annual commemoration of Cde Joe Slovo, Ramaphosa seized the opportunity to criticize the U.S. military action, describing it as a blatant violation of Venezuela’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
“Our commitment to international law and the United Nations Charter informs our deep concern over the United States’ actions in Venezuela, which undermine the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. We utterly reject these actions, stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela, and demand the immediate release of President Maduro and his wife.”
Ramaphosa joins a minority of world leaders who have openly condemned the U.S. operation, while others have refrained from commenting, despite previously recognizing Maduro as illegitimate following the widely disputed 2024 elections, which over 50 countries rejected.
South Africa’s statement at the UN Security Council further elaborated on the legal and diplomatic obligations of member states. By signing the UN Charter, all countries commit to resolving disputes peacefully and to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
South Africa’s indicated that historical evidence shows that military invasions of sovereign nations often create instability and exacerbate crises. The South African representative highlighted that unlawful, unilateral force undermines the international order and the principle of equality among nations, citing past interventions in Libya, Iraq, and various African countries as examples of the consequences of foreign military actions.
“History has repeatedly demonstrated that military invasions against sovereign States yield only instability and deepen crisis. Unlawful, unilateral force of this nature undermines the stability of the international order and the principle of equality among nations. Such use of force also undermines the institutional infrastructure established to regulate relations among nations. We have seen examples of these in Libya, Iraq, and countless cases in Africa where foreign interventions and interference create security crises and undermine national governance institutions cultivated through nuanced and complex national contexts.” the statement read
The President joins a small group of world leaders who have openly condemned the U.S. operation, while others have remained silent, despite having rejected Maduro’s legitimacy following the widely disputed 2024 elections, which over 50 countries deemed flawed.
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