TheAfrican National Congress (ANC)has spoken out against thedetention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, describing the action as a serious violation of international law and Venezuela’s national sovereignty. , describing the action as a serious violation of international law and Venezuela’s national sovereignty. The party framed the aggression within a historical and strategic context, noting that such interventions are rarely accidental.
“As a liberation movement forged in struggle against colonialism, apartheid and external domination, the ANC recognises that such aggression is seldom accidental. It is often driven by contests over strategic resources, control of markets, and resistance of the independent development paths chosen by sovereign nations of the Global South,” the statement read. Emphasising the importance of international law, the ANC warned that selective enforcement threatens developing nations: “The principles of sovereign equality, non-interference and peaceful resolution of disputes are the bedrock of a just international order.
Their selective application erodes trust, fuels instability and disproportionately harms developing countries and oppressed people across the globe.” The party also highlighted Venezuela’s resistance over natural resources and economic policy, drawing parallels to South Africa’s own historic struggles: “Venezuela is being targeted because of its insistence on sovereignty over its natural resources and economic policy choices. In a similar vein, the ANC’s own historic struggle for economic transformation, equitable access to resources and fair trade relations continues to 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.”
