Media Statements

The African National Congress condemns the recent acts of aggression directed at the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which constitute a serious violation of international law, national sovereignty and the principles governing peaceful relations between states. The kidnapping of Comrade President Nicolas Maduro, his wife, Comrade Cilia Flores and son, Nicolas Ernesto Maduro, undermines the United Nations Charter and threatens global peace and stability at a time when the world requires cooperation, restraint and dialogue.

The ANC expresses its solidarity with the people of Venezuela, who continue to endure sustained political, economic and diplomatic pressure. 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 to the independent development paths chosen by sovereign nations of the Global South.

The ANC reiterates that international law must be respected by all states, without exception or selectivity.

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 ANC further cautions that the current situation must be understood within the broader economic and geopolitical struggle. 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.

Guided by the principled position articulated by Isithwalandwe-Seaparankwe, President Nelson Mandela, that “We fought injustice wherever we found it, no matter how large, or how small, and we fought injustice to preserve our own humanity, the ANC consistently condemns injustice, irrespective of who perpetrates it. The movement, therefore, calls for restraint, de-escalation and a return to dialogue through multilateral institutions.The ANC urges the United Nations and the United Nations Security Council to act swiftly and decisively to uphold international law, prevent further escalation and a humanitarian crisis, and ensure protection of civilian lives.

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, resilient leadership, and principled international cooperation, particularly among nations of the Global South.

The ANC further calls on peace-loving people in our country, across the continent, and around the world, including within the United States, to call for the immediate and unconditional release of President Maduro. The world must reject all actions that undermine democracy, international law, and human dignity. The devastating humanitarian consequences of war, sanctions and economic coercion must remain central to the conscience of the global community.

The ANC reaffirms its commitment to a just, multipolar and rules-based international order grounded in equality between nations, respect for sovereignty and solidarity among peoples. The interdependence of nations demands cooperation rather than confrontation, and development rather than domination. Only through collective action can humanity confront its shared challenges and advance a more peaceful, equitable and sustainable world.

The Freedom Charter correctly states that “There shall be peace and friendship … Let all people who love their people and their country now say, as we say here: ‘THESE FREEDOMS WE WILL FIGHT FOR, SIDE BY SIDE, THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES, UNTIL WE HAVE WON OUR LIBERTY’

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