Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. The African Union (AU) has condemned the United States’ military assault on Venezuela and the capture of the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores.
On 3 January 2026, the United States launched what it described as a large-scale military operation in Venezuela and announced that President Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country to New York.
Washington said the operation involved US law enforcement and military forces. Venezuela’s government, however, denounced the move as a “kidnapping” and reported attacks on both civilian and military installations.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the AU described Maduro’s capture as an abduction and reaffirmed its commitment to the fundamental principles of international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. The statement reads:
“The African Union is following with grave concern the recent developments in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, including reports of the abduction of the President of the Republic, Mr Nicolás Maduro, and military attacks on Venezuelan institutions.
“The African Union reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the fundamental principles of international law, including respect for the sovereignty of States, their territorial integrity, and the right of peoples to self-determination, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
“The African Union underscores the importance of dialogue, peaceful settlement of disputes, and respect for constitutional and institutional frameworks, in a spirit of good neighbourliness, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence among nations.
“The African Union emphasises that the complex internal challenges facing Venezuela can only be sustainably addressed through inclusive political dialogue among Venezuelans themselves.
“The African Union expresses its solidarity with the Venezuelan people and reiterates its commitment to the promotion of peace, stability, and mutual respect among nations and regions.
“The African Union calls upon all parties concerned to exercise restraint, responsibility, and respect for international law to prevent any escalation and to preserve regional peace and stability.”
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