South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a strong condemnation of the United States’ military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, describing it as a grave violation of international law and calling for their immediate release.
In a video statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Ramaphosa, standing before Venezuelan flags, declared:
“We reject utterly the actions embarked upon by the United States and we stand with the people of Venezuela.”
He emphasized South Africa’s commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter, stating that the U.S. raid undermined Venezuela’s territorial integrity and sovereignty as a UN member state.
Ramaphosa urged the UN Security Council to intervene decisively to address the crisis and restore peace, warning that such unilateral actions set a dangerous precedent.
The statement comes three days after a dramatic pre-dawn U.S. military raid on January 3 in Caracas, dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve.”
U.S. special forces, supported by airstrikes on military sites including Fort Tiuna and La Carlota airbase, extracted Maduro and his wife from a fortified residence.
President Donald Trump announced the operation on social media, stating that Maduro had been “captured and flown out of the Country” to face long-standing U.S. federal charges of narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and money laundering.
Maduro, 63, and Flores appeared in a Manhattan federal court on Monday, where they pleaded not guilty.
Maduro described his detention as a “kidnapping” and maintained his innocence, insisting he remains Venezuela’s legitimate president.
The operation has sparked global outrage and division.
Allies of Venezuela, including China, Russia, Cuba, and Iran, have condemned it as an act of aggression and imperialism.
Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and several other Latin American nations issued joint statements rejecting the unilateral intervention.
At an emergency UN Security Council meeting, even some U.S. allies like France expressed concerns over violations of sovereignty, though others, such as the UK, stopped short of outright condemnation while calling for a peaceful transition.
Trump has defended the raid as necessary to dismantle a “narco-state” and has claimed the U.S. will “run” Venezuela temporarily to facilitate a transition and secure oil interests.
Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has assumed acting presidency in Caracas, denouncing the action but indicating openness to dialogue.
Ramaphosa’s remarks align South Africa with a bloc of nations prioritizing non-intervention and multilateralism, reflecting Pretoria’s historical stance against perceived Western overreach.
The African National Congress (ANC) leader echoed calls from figures like Chinese President Xi Jinping for Maduro’s release.
Domestically, Ramaphosa’s statement has drawn mixed reactions on social media, with some South Africans criticizing it as misplaced amid the country’s own challenges, while others praised it as principled solidarity.
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As Maduro remains in U.S. custody and Venezuela navigates uncertainty, the incident has reignited debates over international law, sovereignty, and U.S. foreign policy in the Americas.
The UN Security Council is expected to continue discussions, though a resolution faces likely veto from permanent members.
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