Brazzaville briefing on Venezuela political crisis
In Brazzaville on Jan. 7, Venezuela’s ambassador to the Republic of Congo, Laura Evangelia Suarez, said she regretted what she called an invasion of Venezuelan territory. Her remarks followed the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, according to a dispatch published by the Congolese Information Agency (ACI).
Ambassador denounces detention on U.S. territory
Speaking during a press briefing, Suarez said President Nicolas Maduro, whom she described as the constitutional president, is being held as a prisoner on U.S. territory. She argued that the actions surrounding his arrest contradict international law, using language that framed the episode as a breach of established norms (ACI).
Venezuela’s institutions presented as “solid”
The ambassador portrayed Venezuela’s democratic system as resting on “solid” foundations. She cited the existence of five powers, which she listed as legislative, executive, judicial, moral and electoral, and said the constitution rejects any attempt to take power by force (ACI).
Defense Council meeting and decision to apply the constitution
Suarez said a meeting of the Defense Council took place with participation from the five powers, alongside the ministries of Defense and Interior and other ministries. According to her, the gathering decided that institutions should apply constitutional law in response to the situation (ACI).
Supreme Tribunal and interim presidency explained
Within that framework, she said the Supreme Tribunal decided that the vice president should assume leadership as interim president. Suarez described this move as a response to what she called the forced absence and illegal abduction of the “constitutional and legitimate” president (ACI).
National Assembly session and 2026–2031 parliamentary period
Suarez also pointed to the Jan. 5 session of the National Assembly, which she said traditionally marks the parliamentary opening. She linked it to the start of the 2026–2031 legislative period and described it as a procedural moment intended to keep state institutions operating (ACI).
Swearing-in plan cited as proof of continuity
According to the ambassador, the Assembly elected its bureau, and she said that once the bureau is installed, the interim president will take an oath before parliament. Suarez presented that sequence as evidence that democracy and the exercise of power remain functional in Venezuela (ACI).
International reactions welcomed by Caracas envoy
The ambassador said she was satisfied with statements coming from the United Nations and other groupings she cited, including the African Union, ECOWAS, and a group described as the friends for the defense of the United Nations Charter. In her account, these reactions supported Venezuela’s position (ACI).
Foreign ministry message stresses peace and cooperation
Suarez relayed a message attributed to Venezuela’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying the country reaffirms a vocation for peace and peaceful coexistence. She said Venezuela aspires to live without external threats, in an environment of respect and international cooperation (ACI).
Trial date announced for Nicolas Maduro
The ambassador’s remarks came as ACI reported that President Nicolas Maduro’s trial is expected to take place on March 17. The dispatch did not provide further details about the venue or charges, but the date added urgency to Caracas’s diplomatic messaging from Brazzaville (ACI).
Diplomatic implications for Congo and the wider region
For audiences in Brazzaville and across Central Africa, the episode highlights how distant political shocks can quickly become a subject of formal diplomacy. The Venezuelan envoy’s comments were framed around sovereignty, constitutional continuity and international law—vocabulary that resonates in multilateral forums where African states often call for non-interference (ACI).