KIGALI, Jan 5 (AGCNewsNet) – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday urged the international community to respect the independence and territorial integrity of Venezuela following a United States military operation that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

In a statement issued after an extraordinary review of the situation, the West African bloc said it was following recent developments in the South American country with deep concern. While acknowledging the right of states to combat international crimes such as terrorism and drug trafficking, ECOWAS stressed that such actions must not violate international law.

“ECOWAS wishes to remind the international community of their obligation to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other as enshrined in international law, especially Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter,” the statement said.

The bloc reiterated its solidarity with the people of Venezuela and expressed support for their right to determine the future of their country through an inclusive and peaceful process.

The statement comes amid reports that the death toll from Saturday’s US military operation in Venezuela has climbed to at least 80, according to The New York Times, which cited a senior Venezuelan official. The official warned that the figure could rise further as assessments continue.

Earlier, Venezuela’s Defence Minister, Vladimir Padrino, said a large portion of President Maduro’s security detail was killed during the operation, though he did not provide specific figures.

US President Donald Trump confirmed that the military action resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife, adding that Washington would assert temporary control over Venezuela, including the deployment of US troops if necessary.

Maduro and Flores reportedly arrived in New York late Saturday and are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where they face US federal charges related to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated as terrorist organisations.

The Venezuelan president has denied all allegations, while authorities in Caracas have condemned the operation and demanded the immediate release of the detained couple.

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