Sahelian States Condemn U.S. Capture of Venezuela’s Maduro as Violation of International Law

The transitional governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have strongly condemned the United States’ capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, calling the action an unacceptable violation of international law and sovereignty, officials said on Wednesday.

In a joint statement, the leaders of the three West African states members of the Alliance of Sahel States described the removal of Maduro from power as a blatant act of aggression, urging the United Nations Security Council to denounce the U.S. operation and work to restore international legal norms.

Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, president of the alliance, signed the declaration along with his counterparts from Mali and Niger. The statement affirmed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and called for the protection of national independence against external interference.

The alliance was established in 2023 by the three countries following political shifts and security realignments in the Sahel region. Leaders said they viewed the U.S. action as part of a pattern of powerful states overriding sovereign decision-making by less powerful nations.

The U.S. military detained Maduro in Caracas during a weekend operation and transported him to New York to face trial on criminal charges. Maduro has pleaded not guilty in a U.S. court and described his detention as a kidnapping, a charge that has drawn criticism from several governments concerned about sovereignty and legal norms.

The Sahelian states’ joint condemnation reflects growing geopolitical tensions and solidarity among regional partners with governments perceived to be targeted by external military actions.

SOURCE: AFP