PRETORIA, 03 January 2025– The South African government has expressed “grave concern” and called for an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council following a large-scale U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
In a formal statement issued Saturday, January 3, 2026, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) condemned the unilateral action as a “manifest violation” of the United Nations Charter.
A “Violation of Sovereignty”
The statement, released by Ministry Spokesperson Chrispin Phiri, highlights South Africa’s stance that the military strike undermines the territorial integrity and political independence of sovereign states.
”The Charter does not authorise external military intervention in matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of a sovereign nation,” the department stated.
South Africa warned that history proves such invasions typically lead to “instability and deepening crisis” rather than resolution. The government argued that the use of unilateral force threatens the “principle of equality among nations” and the stability of the global international order.
Global Shockwaves
The military action, which U.S. officials confirmed involved a strike against the Venezuelan leader and his subsequent removal from the country alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, has sent shockwaves through the diplomatic community.
Reports indicate the operation was carried out in the early hours of Saturday morning. While the U.S. has justified the move as a matter of national security and law enforcement, South Africa joins a growing list of nations questioning the legality of the intervention under international law.
South Africa is now urging the UN Security Council—the body responsible for maintaining international peace—to convene immediately to address the situation.
DIRCO also confirmed that South African embassy staff in Caracas are safe following the explosions that rocked the capital during the operation.
