The Confederation of Sahel States Condemns US Military Operation in VenezuelaBamako

Bamako, January 18, 2026 - The Confederation of Sahel States (AES) has condemned the US military intervention in Venezuela, which reportedly led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

In a statement, the AES - comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger - expressed deep concern, describing the operation as the use of armed force against a sovereign state. The organization denounced the action as unacceptable interference and a violation of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

The Confederation called on the UN Security Council to condemn the US action and to work toward the restoration of international law. It reaffirmed its commitment to multilateralism, sovereign equality of states, and expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people, whose sovereignty it said had been violated.

This position comes amid mixed international reactions following the operation and the reported capture of Nicolás Maduro in early January, an event criticized by several states as a violation of international law.