By It is no surprise that South Africa, an advocate for human rights, has taken a stand against the invasion and abduction of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro by the United States of America.
Once again, South Africa has stood up against the US and appealed to the United Nations’ Security Council to address the matter with the urgency it deserves. Taking from the page of history, South Africa says history has repeatedly demonstrated that military invasions against sovereign States yield only instability and deepen crisis.
Pretoria says the invasion and abduction of a sitting president in a sovereign country by America has undermined the UN Charter and violated International Law. SA says integral to the maintenance of international peace and security since the establishment of the United Nations is the understanding that no nation can claim to be legally or morally superior to another.
“We are all nations born out of different histories and contexts ascribing to the common values and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. Chief amongst these principles is the sovereign equality of all its members,” said South Africa.
“The unilateral military strikes carried out by the United States of America against Venezuela and the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse from Venezuelan territory for transfer to the United States wantonly violates the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Venezuela. These actions are also in stark contrast of our established legal norms. Once again, the belief that might is right, is reinforced and diplomacy is undermined.
History has repeatedly demonstrated that military invasions against sovereign States yield only instability and deepen crisis. Unlawful, unilateral force of this nature undermines the stability of the international order and the principle of equality among nations. Such use of force also undermines the institutional infrastructure established to regulate relations among nations.
We have seen examples of these in Libya, Iraq, and countless cases in Africa where foreign interventions and interference create security crises and undermine national governance institutions cultivated through nuanced and complex national contexts,” said SA.
“South Africa stresses that allegations of internal governance challenges, human rights concerns or acts of criminality by a Head of State cannot justify a breach of the Charter’s prohibition on the use of force particularly Article 2(4) of the Charter. The peaceful resolution of disputes and internal matters must proceed in accordance with international law, and through multilateral mechanisms.
Additionally, under international law, a State has exclusive jurisdiction over persons and conduct within its own territory. Any enforcement of domestic law, including arrest, by one State within the territory of another State without that State’s consent is an unlawful violation of sovereignty. There are recourse mechanisms at the disposal of States to implement international law. This includes taking action by bringing a case before the International Court of Justice or seeking action from the UN Security Council.
We note the statement issued by a group of concerned countries, mainly those in the Latin American region most affected by the developments in Venezuela which reiterates that the situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively through peaceful means, through dialogue, negotiation, and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law,” it continued.
