In a strongly worded opinion piece titled “The Way Forward for Venezuela,” former Gambian lawmaker and Pan-African Parliament member Halifa Sallah has urged global leaders to rethink interventions in sovereign nations following the dramatic U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Sallah, who served as a member of the Pan-African Parliament from 2004 to 2007 and headed Gambia’s delegation to the EU/ACP Parliamentary Assembly from 2017 to 2022, described the events as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of heads of state. “All Presidents of the world and Heads of State and Government are weak and vulnerable and could easily be targeted,” he wrote, citing historical examples like the killings of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi and Chad’s Idriss Déby.
The statement comes as Maduro pleaded not guilty in a New York federal court on Monday to U.S. charges including narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and money laundering. His wife, Flores, who holds no official government position, also entered a not guilty plea. The couple was seized in a pre-dawn U.S. military operation on January 3 involving airstrikes on Caracas, which reportedly killed dozens, including civilians and security personnel.
Sallah argued that the world will never achieve peace without mutual respect for sovereignty and self-determination. He praised aspects of President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, such as de-escalating tensions in the Middle East and pursuing peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, but criticized the Venezuela intervention as counterproductive to U.S. interests.
Drawing lessons from past U.S. actions in Iraq and Libya, Sallah warned that “Heads of State and Government could be conquered, but no people could be dominated or ruled against their will.” He called on Trump to rely on international courts for prosecuting sitting leaders and advocated releasing Flores immediately if no charges apply to her.
Addressing Venezuelans directly, Sallah emphasized national unity: “Despite party affiliation, they should throw away political expediencies and hold a national conference to determine how to create transitional institutions… pending the holding of free and fair elections.” He stressed that only a united people can preserve Venezuela’s sovereignty, echoing condemnations from the African Union, Brazil, and others.
Sallah also urged the UN, the African Union, and organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union to monitor Maduro’s treatment and ensure fair proceedings. If no evidence supports a conviction, he should be released, Sallah argued.
On broader U.S. policy, he cautioned against reviving Cold War-era spheres of influence or protectionism, noting the interconnected global economy. Invoking the Monroe Doctrine in this context was “inappropriate,” he said, warning that such actions could destabilize the region and reverse decolonization gains.
The piece concludes with a call for global cooperation: “International peace and security can only be preserved… if Heads of State and Government and peoples of the world ensure and assure the protection of each other’s sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity and national unity.”
Sallah’s statement has been distributed to Gambia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and all foreign missions in the country.
The U.S. operation has sparked international outrage, with the UN Security Council debating its legality and leaders from Russia, China, and Latin America condemning it as a violation of sovereignty. Trump has defended the action, stating the U.S. will oversee Venezuela temporarily until a “safe” transition.
