Also known as: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro · President Nicolás Maduro · President Maduro · Nicolaás Maduro · His Excellency Nicolás Maduro · Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro · Leftist strongman Maduro · deposed Venezuelan president · Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro
Venezuelan president captured by US military forces in January 2026, whose removal deprived Cuba of its main energy supplier and triggered regional upheaval.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
Windhoek Observer
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been kidnapped
“From the signals coming from the MAGA agent provocateur supreme, Trump, and the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the ongoing war of aggression and attrition against Iran, there's no mistaking that the Cuban people, the already crippling economic blockade that has been in operation for more than three decades notwithstanding, worsened by the ongoing added oil embargo on Cuba, have as yet to see the worst.”
NNN, Namibians, America is coming for our friend!The Namibian
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured in January
“During Monday's press conference, Trump marveled at American military precision on display in last year's "Midnight Hammer" bombing raid on Iran's nuclear sites, the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January and this weekend's rescue mission.”
Clock ticks on Trump's Iran ultimatum with little sign of breakthroughNew Era
Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro was abducted by US forces in a raid in January
“The shipment of oil would be the first to Havana since January, when US forces abducted Venezuelan president and Cuban ally Nicolas Maduro in a raid.”
Russian oil shipment reaches Cuba amid US blockadeNew Era
Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro was recently kidnapped Cuba's most significant energy ally
“The recent kidnapping of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, Cuba's most significant energy ally, only worsened an already dire situation.”
Business Editorial – It’s time to end cruel siege on CubaNew Era
Nicolas Maduro was toppled by the US in January from Venezuela's leftist leadership
“Since toppling Venezuela's leftist leader, Nicolas Maduro, in January, the US has halted Caracas from shipping oil to Cuba and threatened sanctions on others.”
Starved of fuel … Cubans scramble to make ends meetThe Namibian
Nicolas Maduro was spirited out of the country by the US on 3 January
“After a lightning operation by the US to spirit the deposed president and his wife out of the country on 3 January, Venezuela has found itself in limbo.”
Under pressure from Trump, Venezuela's new president has aces up her sleeveNew Era
Nicolas Maduro was captured and flown to New York to face trial by US forces
“It was spearheaded by interim president Delcy Rodriguez, who replaced Maduro after he was captured by US forces in Caracas last month and flown to New York to face trial.”
Venezuela debates historic amnesty for political prisonersNew Era
Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro was captured by American troops last month
“Cuba is reeling from a US-ordered halt in oil shipments from Caracas after American troops captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro last month.”
Russia accuses US of suffocating CubaNew Era
Nicolas Maduro was allegedly kidnapped by U.S. armed forces
“He strongly advised Namibia to draw lessons from Venezuela's recent political turmoil, which led to the kidnapping of its president, Nicolás Maduro, by the United States (U.S.) armed forces.”
Lessons from VenezuelaThe Namibian
Nicolas Maduro was kidnapped by the United States
“The United States (US) attack on Venezuela last month and the kidnapping of its president Nicolas Maduro and his wife marked a violent turn in the history of US imperialism.”
Navigating Global Politics and Defending Our Right to Self-DeterminationAn opinion piece by Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro endorses a "Namibians in Solidarity with the People of Cuba Campaign for Humanitarian Aid" launched by the Namibia-Cuba Friendship Association, arguing that Namibians should provide moral and humanitarian support to Cuba given Cuba's role in Namibia's liberation struggle.
22 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
An opinion piece by Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro endorses a "Namibians in Solidarity with the People of Cuba Campaign for Humanitarian Aid" launched by the Namibia-Cuba Friendship Association, arguing that Namibians should provide moral and humanitarian support to Cuba given Cuba's role in Namibia's liberation struggle.
22 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Trump has issued an explicit ultimatum demanding Iran reach an acceptable agreement by Tuesday 20:00 Washington time or face new strikes that would "decimate" bridges and power plants, though Iran has so far rejected the ceasefire and made "maximalist" counter-demands, leaving unclear whether negotiations are progressing behind closed doors.
7 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Russia's sanctioned tanker Anatoly Kolodkin carrying 730,000 barrels of crude has reached Cuba, the first oil shipment since January when the US removed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, depriving Cuba of its main energy supplier and triggering fuel shortages and blackouts on the island.
31 March 2026 · New Era →
Israel and Iran exchanged missile fire as US President Trump signals possible military operations against Iran's oil infrastructure, sending global oil prices toward US$100–$117 per barrel. The Middle East conflict is disrupting global energy supplies, with analysts warning that further US or Iranian action could drive prices to historic highs.
31 March 2026 · New Era →
China has announced an annual economic growth target of 4.5–5%, the lowest since 1991, as it faces domestic challenges including weak consumption, a shrinking population, and property crisis, alongside global trade tensions and energy pressures. The target, released during China's "two sessions" political gathering, signals a shift to more flexible goals while Beijing pursues investments in innovation, green energy, and efforts to boost household consumption.
5 March 2026 · The Namibian →
New Era editorial argues the six-decade US economic embargo on Cuba is a "man-made humanitarian crisis" that has failed its political objectives while causing severe suffering to ordinary Cubans through trade bans, financial restrictions, and energy shortages. The piece calls for the United States to lift the embargo and allow Cuba to rejoin the global economy, noting Namibia's historical solidarity with Cuba and international opposition to the blockade.
27 February 2026 · New Era →
The Sam Nujoma Foundation has described Cuba's worsening economic conditions as a "man-made humanitarian crisis" caused by intensified US sanctions that have morphed from a Cold War trade embargo into a complex web of financial and secondary sanctions. The crisis has deepened since Venezuela cut off oil supplies after January political changes, triggering rolling blackouts, medicine shortages and tourism decline that Cuban and regional officials warn threatens the island's survival and stability across the Caribbean.
27 February 2026 · New Era →
A US-imposed oil blockade on Cuba, intensified after the fall of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro in January, has triggered severe fuel shortages and rolling blackouts, forcing workers to abandon cars and change jobs, with 96.4% of private businesses reporting severe or catastrophic impacts and food imports crippled by diesel shortages.
26 February 2026 · New Era →
Delcy Rodríguez, the new Venezuelan leader, faces pressure from US President Trump while maintaining support from her socialist base. She has agreed to oil deals with the US while continuing anti-imperialist rhetoric to keep her Chavista coalition intact, though analysts say she retains some leverage over Trump through his need to present Maduro's removal as successful.
18 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Venezuela debated a landmark amnesty bill aimed at releasing political prisoners detained under Nicolas Maduro and Hugo Chavez, with interim president Delcy Rodriguez having already released over 400 prisoners and ordered closure of the notorious Helicoide prison. The attorney general said the amnesty should apply to both opposition and government figures and called for dialogue and peace.
13 February 2026 · New Era →
The Kremlin accused the United States of using "suffocating measures" against Cuba as the island faces a worsening energy crisis following a US-ordered halt in oil shipments from Venezuela and new US tariffs threatening supplies from Mexico. Cuba has announced emergency measures including a four-day workweek and fuel restrictions as power plants struggle to maintain electricity.
10 February 2026 · New Era →
Lawmakers have urged the government to negotiate stronger, value-driven deals as the US seeks to position Namibia as a strategic partner for uranium and offshore oil and gas resources. Parliamentarians stress that Namibia must prioritize national interests and negotiate from strength, with some citing Venezuela's institutional collapse as a cautionary lesson.
10 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Venezuela's ambassador to Namibia has urged the country to learn from Venezuela's political crisis and develop mechanisms to protect its emerging oil and gas sector, cautioning that traditional international law and respect for sovereignty cannot be relied upon. The warning comes as Namibia positions itself as a key oil and gas frontier following major offshore discoveries in the Orange Basin.
5 February 2026 · New Era →
An opinion piece argues that small resource-rich nations like Namibia face threats to sovereignty from great powers pursuing imperial interests, citing the US attack on Venezuela as evidence. The author calls for Global South countries to form strategic alliances based on shared principles to ensure collective security and protect their right to self-determination.
4 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Cuba's ambassador to Colombia has accused the United States of "international piracy" and imposing a "marine siege" on the island by blocking Venezuelan oil shipments following a US military action against Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro. Cuba has sought alternative oil suppliers including Mexico, though analysts warn the already struggling economy could face a breaking point and potential humanitarian crisis without Venezuelan oil.
25 January 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian publishes three opinion letters: one on setting realistic personal goals; one arguing free university tuition alone cannot solve Namibia's 44.4% youth unemployment without job creation and support for entrepreneurship; and one critiquing US intervention rhetoric in Venezuela as "weaponised aid" that undermines Global South sovereignty.
23 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez said the country would use US$300 million from a US-brokered oil sale to prop up the bolivar against the dollar, which has become Venezuela's de facto currency. The move aims to stabilize the foreign exchange market after a six-year US embargo on Venezuelan oil created a shortage of dollars.
22 January 2026 · New Era →
Gold and silver prices reached all-time highs while stock markets declined as investors sought safety following US President Donald Trump's threat of up to 25% tariffs on European countries over his Greenland ambitions. European leaders, including Denmark, said they stand united against the threat, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that trade wars are in no one's interest.
20 January 2026 · New Era →
New Era's Uncommon Sense column argues that Namibia should enter the new year with renewed commitment to authenticity, integrity, and purpose—asking both citizens and national leadership to prioritize honest, transparent governance and dignified living conditions over speeches alone.
16 January 2026 · New Era →
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare signed a book of condolences at the Venezuelan Embassy following the deaths of hundreds of Venezuelans during the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores on 3 January 2026, calling the abduction a violation of international law and demanding their immediate return. Ngurare expressed solidarity with Venezuela and said Namibia reaffirms its friendship with the country, noting that Maduro and his wife are currently in US custody in New York awaiting trial.
16 January 2026 · New Era →
Cuba held a state funeral for 32 troops killed in Venezuela during a US military intervention that ousted President Nicolás Maduro, marking the country's largest military loss to US forces since the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion. The deaths have forced Cuba to acknowledge its deep intelligence presence in Venezuela and confront the prospect of losing a key ally, as Venezuela's new interim leadership appears to be establishing ties with the Trump administration.
16 January 2026 · The Namibian →
US President Donald Trump met with major oil executives at the White House to encourage investment in Venezuela's oil reserves, saying his administration would decide which companies operate there. One CEO called Venezuela "uninvestable" without reforms, though analysts said Trump's push faces economic and strategic obstacles.
12 January 2026 · New Era →
An opinion piece by a retired major general argues that a large-scale US military strike against Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro violates Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the threat or use of force against another state's territorial integrity without UN Security Council authorization or self-defence justification. The author contends that while sitting heads of state enjoy immunity from foreign jurisdiction under international law, the US can still prosecute Maduro under domestic law via the Ker-Frisbie Doctrine if he is brought to American soil.
12 January 2026 · New Era →
A social justice scholar argues that the US bombing and kidnapping of Venezuelan President Maduro breaches the UN Charter and sets a dangerous precedent for sovereign nations, particularly in the global South. He contends the military action was justified by false pretexts about drug trafficking when the real motive is access to Venezuela's oil reserves, and warns that Namibia faces similar risks given its recent oil discoveries.
12 January 2026 · New Era →
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said he is not worried about speculation of a US invasion, adding that differences with any country should be resolved through discussion and negotiation. South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation separately condemned recent US military action in Venezuela as a violation of the UN Charter.
8 January 2026 · The Namibian →
The Students Union of Namibia has cited Venezuela's recent political crisis as a lesson on the dangers of weak governance and institutional failure, warning that both misrule justified by nationalism and foreign intervention disguised as democratic support weaken institutions and destabilize youth populations. The union's legal secretary called for young leaders in the Global South to prioritize accountable institutions, economic diversification, and youth employment over personality-driven politics and narrow resource dependency.
7 January 2026 · New Era →
Key European countries and US envoys met with President Zelensky in Paris to discuss security guarantees for a potential ceasefire in Russia's war against Ukraine, as representatives from 35 nations, including 27 heads of state, gathered to show alignment on Ukraine's post-war settlement.
7 January 2026 · New Era →
SWAPO Party Secretary General Sophia Shaningwa issued a statement condemning what she characterized as US aggression against Venezuela, expressing solidarity with President Nicolás Maduro and calling for his release. Shaningwa emphasized SWAPO's commitment to principles of national sovereignty, self-determination, and adherence to international law, urging the global community to respect Venezuela's independence.
7 January 2026 · Informanté →
Global oil prices remained largely flat after the US military captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro over the weekend, with US crude falling 0.54% to $57.01 per barrel and Brent falling 0.36% to $60.53. Despite Venezuela holding the world's largest proven crude oil reserves, OPEC+ statements indicate the oil market remains balanced with sufficient supply to meet demand.
7 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Oil prices dipped after the United States ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, raising prospects that billions of barrels could enter the global market in coming years. Analysts expect the oversupplied oil market will absorb the supply uncertainty with limited impact on prices, though shares in defence companies and gold miners rallied on new geopolitical risks.
6 January 2026 · New Era →