The African Union was joined by countries ranging from Ghana to Uganda and South Africa in expressing various degrees of concern at the United States’ latest intervention in Venezuela, during which President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, were seized and flown to be tried in New York on an indictment including drugs and weapons  charges.

The AU said in a statement it would be “following with grave concern the recent developments in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, including reports of the abduction of the President of the Republic, Nicolas Maduro, and military attacks on Venezuelan institutions.” It added: “The African Union underscores the importance of dialogue, peaceful settlement of disputes, and respect for constitutional and institutional frameworks, in a spirit of good neighbourliness, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence among nations.”

Ghana said President Donald Trump’s statement that the U.S. would “run” Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” could be achieved was “reminiscent of the colonial and imperialist era and set a dangerous precedent.”

A South African government spokesperson said the U.S. had acted in “manifest violation” of the United Nations Charter, which requires member states to use force against the territorial integrity of another state.

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni said the arrest of Maduro by the U.S. underscores the urgent need for Africa to strengthen its strategic security across land, sea, air and space. 

Nigeria’s opposition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), criticised the government for its tardy response to the news and supported the actions of the U.S. as a “clear warning” to governments that lack legitimacy.

Culled from allafrica.com