Name: U.S. takeover of Venezuela: Lessons for Africa and the world
Uploaded: 2026-01-09T01:49:39.124Z
Duration: 4 min 3 s
Description: African nations are voicing alarm after the US military operation that seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a move many say violates international law and destabilizes global norms. Is Donald Trump setting a dangerous precedent?

African nations are voicing alarm after the US military operation that seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a move many say violates international law and destabilizes global norms. Is Donald Trump setting a dangerous precedent?

Johannesburg

U.S. troops conducted a covert operation in Caracas, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, an act widely condemned by United Nations members, legal experts, and African leaders as a violation of international law. The African Union, ECOWAS, and South Africa have called the U.S. action a dangerous precedent, urging dialogue and demanding the release of Maduro and his wife.

The incident has prompted African leaders to warn of the dangers of powerful nations acting outside international frameworks, with concerns that such actions could destabilize smaller countries and erode sovereignty. The situation has also been described as a wake-up call for Africa to strengthen collective security and autonomy, amid fears of increased interference from global powers.

U.S. 'takeover' of Venezuela: Lessons for Africa and the world

U.S. troops invaded Venezuela on January 3, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. In a covert operation in the Caracas, many U.N. members and legal experts say blatantly violated international law. Is Trump paving the way for a new era of imperialism? And what does it mean for African countries? It's a kind of imperialist belligerence that threatens not only Venezuela, not only the people of Latin America, but we've actually seen it also here. When we have leaders, powerful leaders who can do as they please in the world, that goes to show what you are in trouble, you know? It's very unfortunate that no one is going to hold America accountable for what they have done. Welcome to The Flip Side. Maduro's arrest by U.S. special forces caused outrage across Africa. The African Union and ECOWAS have both condemned the use of force, urging dialogue to resolve Venezuela's internal challenges. South Africa described the U.S. action as a dangerous precedent that destabilizes the international order. We reject utterly the actions that the United States has embarked upon and stand with the people of Venezuela. And we demand the release of President Maduro and his wife as well. But regardless of political alignment, one point resonates across the continent. The operation was not legal. You know, this is how these superpowers behave in court, how they just go against the international law for their own interest. And that is quite unfortunate. Currently, the Horn of Africa is facing a looming conflict if cool heads don't prevail. Fears are rising over a potential confrontation between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Ethiopia is renewing demands for direct maritime access, calling it an existential matter. The Ethiopian army has gone so far as to publish a map that includes Port Assab in Eritrea as part of Ethiopia, triggering a furious backlash from Asmara. This threat raises a larger question. What risk do countries face if they increasingly act outside U.N. frameworks? Well, the risk is really a destabilization for a lot of these countries considered as smaller countries and a risk of growing influence and interference by either their larger neighbors or by global powers. So this would mean potentially a further erosion of their sovereignty. Ugandan President Nyoveri Museveni has described the U.S.-Venezuela situation as a wake-up call for Africa to strengthen its collective security and strategic autonomy. If we all don't come together, I think the African will be a stage of fighting for resources from the Chinese, from Russians and from the Americans. As all eyes are on the U.S. and what Trump will do next, what lessons can Africa and the world take moving forward? We may have a lot of segregations or maybe different groups coming out of the U.N. and that might affect the world peace and the world cohesion. And I believe that the superpowers need to be talked to in one way or the other in a way that they can come back to their selfish interests and think about the world at large. And that is The Flipside.

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