South Africa’s governing party has issued a strong warning over developments involving Venezuela, saying the situation poses serious risks to international law, national sovereignty and global stability.
Drawing on details carried by Smile FM, the African National Congress (ANC) has condemned what it describes as ‘imperialist aggression’ by the United States against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
At the centre of its concern is the alleged ‘kidnapping’ of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, an act the party says violates the United Nations Charter and undermines the foundations of peaceful relations between states.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the ANC said the reported incident threatens global peace at a time when cooperation and restraint are urgently needed.
‘The kidnapping of Comrade President Nicolas Maduro and his wife threatens global peace and stability at a time when the world requires cooperation, restraint and dialogue,’ the party stated.
The ANC called on ‘peace-loving people’ in South Africa, across the African continent and globally, including within the United States, to demand the immediate and unconditional release of the Venezuelan president.
Beyond the immediate allegations, the party framed the situation as part of a broader challenge to international norms.
It warned that actions undermining democracy, international law and human dignity must be rejected, particularly given the humanitarian consequences linked to war, sanctions and economic coercion.
The ANC also expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela, saying they continue to face sustained political, economic and diplomatic pressure. Referencing its own history, the party said its stance is shaped by lived experience.
‘As a liberation movement forged in struggle against colonialism, apartheid and external domination, the ANC recognises that such aggression is seldom accidental,’ the statement read.
‘It is often driven by contests over strategic resources, control of markets and resistance to the independent development paths chosen by sovereign nations of the Global South,’ the party added.
Reports aired by Smile FM further note that the ANC cautioned against selective application of international law, arguing that double standards weaken trust and fuel instability.
‘The principles of sovereign equality, non-interference and the peaceful resolution of disputes are the bedrock of a just international order,’ the statement said.
‘Their selective application erodes trust, fuels instability and disproportionately harms developing countries and oppressed people across the globe.’
The party also placed the Venezuela situation within a wider geopolitical and economic context, suggesting that the country’s insistence on sovereignty over its natural resources and independent economic policies has made it a target.
Drawing parallels with South Africa’s own path, the ANC said struggles for economic transformation, equitable access to resources and fair trade often face resistance from ‘reactionary forces opposed to fundamental change’.
‘This confirms that the real contest is over economic justice and who benefits from global wealth,’ the statement said.
In closing, the ANC called for restraint, de-escalation and renewed dialogue through multilateral institutions.
The ANC notes with appreciation the solidarity expressed by progressive states and forces within multilateral platforms, including during recent G20 engagements, and emphasises that fragmented or hesitant responses cannot defeat imperialism. It requires unity of purpose,… https://t.co/FRDyymqWf9 pic.twitter.com/Eo1XVRBHMD
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) January 6, 2026
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