By: Phakeme Mnguni
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the actions of the United States in Venezuela, saying they undermine the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Speaking at the 31st annual commemoration of liberation stalwart Joe Slovo in Soweto, Johannesburg, Ramaphosa called for the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who are being held in New York following U.S. action against the Venezuelan leadership.
Ramaphosa urged the United Nations Security Council to take decisive steps to uphold international law, warning that unilateral actions by powerful states threaten global stability and set a dangerous precedent.
His remarks come amid long-standing tensions between the United States and Venezuela, with Washington accusing the Maduro government of involvement in narcotics trafficking and human rights abuses, claims Caracas has consistently denied. The ANC has historically maintained close political ties with Venezuela and has repeatedly opposed foreign intervention in sovereign states, aligning itself with calls for dialogue and multilateral solutions to international disputes.
The situation continues to draw mixed reactions globally, with some countries supporting U.S. actions as law enforcement measures, while others, including South Africa, view them as a violation of international norms and state sovereignty.
