Pretoria – South Africa has called on the United Nations Security Council to convene urgently following a United States military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
The South African government described the US action as a unilateral military intervention that breaches the United Nations Charter, which bars member states from using force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another country.
Washington confirmed that its forces carried out a large scale strike in Venezuela over the weekend. US President Donald Trump said the operation involved bombing Caracas and other cities before Maduro was taken into custody and flown out of the country, bringing months of political tension between the two leaders to a head.
Reports by AFP said explosions were heard across the Venezuelan capital as attack helicopters moved through the city, triggering panic among residents.
Pretoria said the UN Charter clearly requires all member states to refrain from the threat or use of force and does not allow external military involvement in matters that fall within the domestic affairs of a sovereign nation. Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokesperson Crispin Phiri said the situation required urgent attention by the Security Council.
South Africa warned that past military invasions of sovereign states have often led to prolonged instability and deeper humanitarian crises, rather than lasting solutions.
Venezuela accused the US of launching missile and rocket attacks on residential areas near Caracas and in other regions, resulting in explosions, power cuts and civilian casualties. Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez condemned the strikes as a breach of international law and announced a nationwide military deployment in response.
The developments have drawn widespread international reaction. The European Union called for restraint, de escalation and adherence to international law, while reiterating its support for a peaceful and democratic transition in Venezuela. EU leaders also raised concerns about the safety of European citizens in the country and said they were closely monitoring the situation.
Russia condemned the US action as armed aggression and demanded immediate clarification on Maduro’s fate. Moscow restated its support for the Venezuelan leader, rejecting the justification offered by Washington, but stopped short of pledging direct military assistance.
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