The ANC has strongly condemned what it describes as “imperialist aggression” by the United States against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, warning that recent developments pose a serious threat to international law, national sovereignty and global stability.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ANC said the alleged “kidnapping” of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores represents a grave violation of the United Nations Charter and undermines the principles that govern peaceful relations between states.

“The kidnapping of Comrade President Nicolás Maduro and his wife threatens global peace and stability at a time when the world requires cooperation, restraint and dialogue,” the party said.

Call for unconditional release

The ANC has also called on peace-loving people in South Africa, across the African continent and around the world – including within the United States – to demand the immediate and unconditional release of President Nicolás Maduro.

The party said the international community must reject all actions that undermine democracy, international law and human dignity, warning that the devastating humanitarian consequences of war, sanctions and economic coercion should remain central to the global conscience.

Solidarity with the Venezuelan people

The ANC expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela, who it said continue to face 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,” 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 reiterated that international law must be respected by all states without exception or selectivity, warning that double standards undermine 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 ANC said.

“Their selective application erodes trust, fuels instability and disproportionately harms developing countries and oppressed people across the globe.”

Economic and geopolitical tensions

The ANC further cautioned that the situation in Venezuela must be understood within a broader economic and geopolitical context, arguing that the country is being targeted because of its insistence on sovereignty over its natural resources and independent economic policies.

Drawing parallels with South Africa’s own history, the party said its 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,” the statement said.

Call for dialogue and UN intervention

The ANC called for restraint, de-escalation and a return to dialogue through multilateral institutions.

It also urged the United Nations and the UN Security Council to act “swiftly and decisively” to uphold international law, prevent further escalation, prevent a humanitarian crisis and ensure the protection of civilian lives.