ANC Rallies Behind Venezuela As US Pressure Sparks Fresh Diplomatic Friction

ANC Takes A Firm Stand On Venezuela

The African National Congress has stepped firmly into the global spotlight, throwing its weight behind Venezuela as tensions between South Africa and the United States continue to simmer.

Speaking on Tuesday, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula accused Washington of what he described as imperialist aggression against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The comments were made on the sidelines of preparations for the party’s January 8 anniversary celebrations, a symbolic moment in the ANC calendar rooted in liberation history and anti-colonial struggle.

For the governing party, the issue goes beyond Caracas. It is framed as part of a broader fight against what it sees as unilateral global power and interference in sovereign states.

Framing The Dispute As A Question Of Democracy

Mbalula argued that sustained pressure from the United States on Venezuela amounted to an assault on democracy and international law. He accused Washington of positioning itself as the world’s policeman, a narrative that resonates strongly within South Africa’s liberation movement tradition.

Invoking the Freedom Charter, Mbalula said the ANC remains committed to peace, equality and friendship among nations. According to him, these principles demand resistance to any form of foreign interference, regardless of where it occurs.

Sanctions, Indictments And Human Cost

The ANC’s remarks come against the backdrop of long-standing US sanctions and criminal indictments against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and senior officials. Washington has previously accused Maduro and others of corruption and narcotics trafficking, even offering multimillion-dollar rewards for information leading to arrests.

Despite these measures, Maduro remains in power in Caracas and has consistently rejected the charges as politically motivated. The ANC echoed this stance, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and an end to economic coercion.

Mbalula warned that sanctions carry devastating humanitarian consequences, eroding human dignity and deepening suffering among ordinary people.

Local Reaction And A Wider Diplomatic Context

On South African social media, reactions have been mixed. Some users praised the ANC for standing by its non-aligned principles, while others questioned whether Pretoria should be drawn into distant geopolitical battles while facing pressing domestic challenges.

The statement also lands at a delicate moment in South Africa’s relationship with Washington. While trade ties and diplomatic engagement remain strong, relations have been strained by disagreements over global conflicts, foreign policy alignment and South Africa’s growing emphasis on a multipolar world order.

For the ANC, however, the message is clear. The party says it will continue working with progressive forces at home and abroad to defend sovereignty, oppose sanctions and push for a global system rooted in equality, solidarity and mutual respect.

{Source:IOL}

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