Africa Against the Kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro
The recent abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by US military forces on Venezuelan soil marked a disruptive moment in international politics. Conducted without a multilateral mandate or recognized legal framework, the operation challenged the structuring principles of the post-World War II world order.
In Africa, the episode generated caution, unease, and at times, open condemnation. The diversity of reactions – from institutional prudence to the firm opposition of nations such as South Africa and Ghana – reflects historical memories of foreign interference, colonialism, and the instrumentalization of resources that lead to the risk of eroding international law and global geopolitical repositioning.
African Reactions
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued the first institutional reaction from Africa. It opted for a cautious formulation, recognizing the right to combat crime, but calling for respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Venezuela, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, a situation that is incompatible with the kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro.
This position reflects the delicate balance that many African countries seek in a polarized international context. ECOWAS aligned itself with the African Union (AU), which avoided directly condemning the United States of America (USA).
The AU stressed the centrality of inclusive political dialogue and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, reaffirming its commitment to the self-determination of peoples and respect for constitutional frameworks. It also warned of the risks of escalation and regional instability.
This approach of diplomatic restraint aims to preserve channels of dialogue with all powers, without abandoning the founding principles of the pan-African organization. However, this institutional moderation contrasted with firmer positions from some African states, revealing internal disagreements about the Venezuelan episode and the role of Africa.
Clear Convictions
Among the strongest reactions was that of South Africa, whose government stated that the American action undermines the stability of the international order and the principle of equality between nations. Pretoria sees the attack as a dangerous regression for international relations based on imposition, not legality.
Ghana was more explicit, condemning the unilateral use of force and calling the US President's statements reminiscent of the colonial era. Accra warned of the dangerous precedent set by the intervention, stressing that attempts to occupy territories and gain external control of oil resources have adverse implications for global stability.
These positions reflect a familiarity with vulnerabilities: wealth of resources, institutional fragility, and exposure to external interests. The support expressed by Angola, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Chad, Niger, Gambia, and Burundi, conveyed by the Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs, reveals political solidarity.
This solidarity is anchored in a shared memory of interference and a shared concern about the normalization of unilateral actions. For these states, the issue transcends Nicolás Maduro, focusing on the defense of a principle that, if violated on one continent, can be violated on any other.
New World Order
The US operation in Venezuela, with the supposed objective of bringing Nicolás Maduro to justice, is seen by many African analysts as a symbol of the consolidation of a new world order, less regulated by norms and more conditioned by the balance of power.
Replacing the primacy of international law with the "law of the strongest" reopens historical wounds, creating uncertainty for small and medium-sized countries. In Africa, where artificial borders and fragile balances demand careful management, the tacit legitimization of unilateral interventions represents a systemic risk.
The parallel between Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the US intervention in Venezuela is gaining prominence: normalizing one legitimizes the other. The perception that major powers can act freely within their spheres of influence reinforces the logic of a fragmented world, where the UN and international treaties lose effectiveness.
The emergency meeting of the Security Council, requested by Venezuela with the support of China and Russia, exposed the limitations of a system blocked by vetoes and strategic interests. For Africa, which relies on multilateralism as a shield, this institutional erosion raises existential questions about collective security, real sovereignty, and the capacity to respond to future crises.
Implications for Africa
The implications of the Venezuelan case for Africa transcend immediate diplomacy. The important factor to consider is not whether the decision to kidnap Nicolás Maduro was correct or not. The real problem is the normalization of military actions without an international mandate, which weakens the position of African countries in future disputes over resources, borders, or internal stability.
For the CPLP, which brings together states with different alignments and strong historical ties, this episode constitutes a serious warning. Angola, as a relevant regional actor and defender of multilateralism, sees a reinforced need for active and coherent diplomacy, prioritizing negotiated solutions and respect for international law.
The Venezuelan crisis also exposes the vulnerability of economies dependent on strategic raw materials in a context of intensified geopolitical competition. The instrumentalization of oil as a political-military argument revives old fears in Africa, where the abundance of resources has often been associated with instability and external intervention.
In this context, the African position, although diverse, converges on one essential point: the defense of sovereignty is not an ideological luxury, but a condition for survival in an increasingly unpredictable international system.
Conclusion
The African reaction to the kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro by the US revealed a continent aware of the dangers of the erosion of international law. Between institutional prudence and explicit condemnations, Africa affirmed principles it knows well from its own experience. In a world where force threatens to replace rules, the African position is an affirmation of memory, autonomy, and strategic vigilance.
This episode made it clear that defending sovereignty is a daily battle and that silence, in these moments, also speaks volumes. For Africa and its partners, the challenge will be to transform this awareness into consistent diplomatic action, protecting their own interests in a rapidly changing world system.
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