South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has strongly condemned the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by the United States, describing the action as a violation of international law and an assault on Venezuela’s sovereignty.
Ramaphosa made his position known in a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, declaring South Africa’s solidarity with the Venezuelan people.
“We reject utterly the actions embarked upon by the United States and we stand with the people of Venezuela,” the South African leader wrote.
He said South Africa’s response was guided by its commitment to international law and the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, stressing that the reported US action undermined the territorial integrity of Venezuela as a sovereign UN member state.
“It is our commitment to international law and the United Nations Charter that informs our deep concern and action of the United States in Venezuela, which has undermined the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the UN member state called Venezuela,” Ramaphosa stated.
The South African president also called for urgent intervention by the United Nations, urging the Security Council to act in line with its responsibility to preserve global peace and security.
“We reiterate our call for decisive action by the United Nations Security Council to fulfil its mandate and advance peace and security,” he added.
Relations between the United States and Venezuela have remained strained for years, largely over allegations of democratic backsliding, human rights abuses, and disputed elections under President Nicolás Maduro’s administration.
Washington has repeatedly imposed sanctions on Caracas and recognised opposition figures as legitimate representatives of Venezuela, a stance rejected by Maduro’s government and its allies.
South Africa, a longstanding advocate of multilateralism and non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, has consistently opposed unilateral actions against governments, particularly those taken without the backing of the United Nations.
Pretoria has often aligned itself with Global South nations in calling for dialogue, respect for sovereignty, and adherence to international law in resolving political crises.
Ramaphosa’s statement adds to growing international reactions and underscores concerns among some UN member states over the implications of foreign intervention for global stability and the authority of international institutions.
