South Africa Condemns U.S. Arrest of Venezuelan President, Joins International Outcry
Pretoria, South Africa – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a forceful condemnation of the United States for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, labelling the action a violation of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty.
Ramaphosa called for the couple’s immediate release and urged the United Nations to intervene in the escalating diplomatic crisis.
The statement from Pretoria follows the dramatic detention of President Maduro by U.S. forces in Caracas last Saturday. On Monday, Maduro appeared before a New York federal court, pleading not guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. His wife, Cilia Flores, also pleaded not guilty to related charges. Both have been remanded in custody, with a bail hearing scheduled for March 17.
In his address, President Ramaphosa aligned South Africa with a growing number of nations expressing deep concern over the arrest. “The detention of a sitting head of state and his spouse by a foreign power constitutes a blatant breach of fundamental tenets of international law and the sovereign equality of states,” Ramaphosa stated. “We call for their unconditional release and for the respect of Venezuela’s right to self-determination, free from external interference.”
The arrest has triggered a swift political transition within Venezuela. Following Maduro’s detention, his former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, was swiftly sworn in as the country’s interim president. Rodríguez has denounced the U.S. action as an “illegal kidnapping” and vowed to continue the government’s functions.
South Africa now joins nations including Uganda and Liberia, which have also raised formal objections, highlighting a significant diplomatic rift. The move is seen as a major escalation in the long-standing tensions between Washington and Caracas, and poses a complex challenge for international bodies being called upon to mediate.
The U.S. Department of Justice has defended the actions, stating the charges are the result of a years-long investigation into Maduro’s alleged role in “narcoterrorism” and turning Venezuela into a narco-state. The case is set to proceed through the U.S. judicial system, even as the diplomatic fallout continues to widen globally.
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