By Eugene Nyarko Jnr. l Accra l January 15, 2026
A coalition of progressive organizations from Africa, Europe, and the Americas has issued a joint statement calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Nicolás Maduro, the constitutionally recognized President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
In the statement dated January 15, the groups alleged that President Maduro had been abducted by armed forces acting on behalf of the United States government, describing the incident as a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty, international law, and the principles of self-determination enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The coalition characterized the alleged action as an escalation of U.S. interventionism and a threat to global norms governing relations between states.
According to the signatories, the incident represents not only an attack on Venezuela’s elected leadership but also an assault on popular sovereignty and democratic governance. They warned that such actions, if left unchecked, could set a dangerous precedent for the use of unilateral force and state-sponsored abduction in international affairs.
The coalition urged the international community to publicly condemn what it described as U.S. aggression against Venezuela and to demand accountability for violations of international law. Among their calls to action, the groups proposed global protests at U.S. embassies and consulates, petitions to governments and parliaments to sever military and intelligence cooperation with the United States, and sustained social media campaigns using hashtags such as #HandsOffVenezuela and #FreeMaduro.
They also called for the rejection of foreign military intervention, sanctions, and regime-change efforts, insisting that all disputes be resolved through peaceful negotiation and multilateral diplomacy. Emphasizing principles of Pan-Africanism, anti-colonial struggle, and South–South solidarity, the statement reaffirmed support for Venezuela’s right to political independence and self-governance.
The statement was endorsed by a wide range of political parties, trade unions, youth movements, and civil society organizations, including the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC) of Ghana, the Botswanan National Front, the Socialist Party of Zambia, Friends of the Congo (USA), and several Pan-African and decolonization movements based in France, West Africa, Central Africa, and North Africa.
Concluding their declaration, the signatories expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and pledged to continue coordinated international actions against what they termed imperialism and foreign domination, stating that “an attack on one sovereign people is an attack on all.”
