South Africa has urged the UN Security Council to convene an emergency session after the United States launched military strikes in Venezuela and said it had captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
In a statement issued Saturday, South Africa’s Foreign Ministry said “unlawful, unilateral force” of this kind undermines the international order and the principle of equality among nations.
Pretoria said it views the US action as a clear violation of the UN Charter, which requires member states to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. The ministry added that the charter does not authorize external military intervention in matters that fall within the domestic jurisdiction of a sovereign country.
“History has repeatedly demonstrated that military invasions against sovereign states yield only instability and deepening crisis,” the statement said, calling on the Security Council to urgently address the developments.
US President Donald Trump earlier announced what he described as a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela, saying Maduro and Flores were captured and flown out of the country. Trump said the operation was carried out “in conjunction with US law enforcement,” and later told Fox News that Washington could play a direct role in shaping Venezuela’s future following Maduro’s removal.
The United States has accused Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking and has indicted him and Flores on multiple charges, including narco-terrorism. Venezuela’s government has denied the allegations.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government did not know Maduro’s whereabouts and demanded proof that he was alive.