Category: The Citizen

New York. Venezuela’s deposed leader Nicolas Maduro was due in a New York court on Monday to face drug charges while the U.

N. was to scrutinize the legality of U.

S. President Donald Trump’s extraordinary operation to capture him.

In the biggest U.S.

intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama, Special Forces swooped into Caracas on helicopters at the weekend to smash through Maduro’s security cordon and nab him at the door of a safe room. Senior officials from his 13-year-old government remain in charge of the South American oil producer of 30 million people, first spitting defiance then pivoting to possible cooperation.

Oil aspirations Though denouncing Maduro as a dictator and drug kingpin, who flooded the U.S.

with cocaine, Trump has made no bones about wanting to share in Venezuela’s oil riches. It has the world’s largest reserves – about 303 billion barrels, mostly heavy oil in the Orinoco region.

But the sector has long been in decline from mismanagement, under-investment and U.S.

sanctions, averaging 1.1 million bpd output last year, a third of its heyday in the 1970s.

A scatter plot showing crude oil reserves on the horizontal axis and crude oil production on the vertical axis for OPEC and non-OPEC countries at the end of 2024. A scatter plot showing crude oil reserves on the horizontal axis and crude oil production on the vertical axis for OPEC and non-OPEC countries at the end of 2024. After first denouncing Maduro’s capture as a colonial oil-grab and “kidnapping”, Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez changed her tune on Sunday, saying it was a priority to have respectful relations with Washington. “We invite the U.

S. government to work together on an agenda of cooperation,” Rodriguez said.

“President Donald Trump, our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war.” The daughter of a leftist guerrilla fighter, 56-year-old Rodriguez has been a fiery-talking member of the ruling “Chavista” movement – named for late leader Hugo Chavez – earning her praise as a “tigress” from Maduro.

But she is also known as a pragmatist with good connections in the private sector and a belief in economic orthodoxy. Many Venezuelans know her for the luxury clothes she likes to wear.

Trump has threatened another strike if Venezuela does not cooperate with opening its oil industry and stopping drugs. Trump also threatened Colombia and Mexico and said Cuba’s communist government “looks like it’s ready to fall”.

Just how the U.S.

would work with a post-Maduro government, full of sworn ideological enemies, is unclear. He appears to have sidelined for now the Venezuelan opposition, where many anti-Maduro activists had assumed this would be their moment.

Amid global consternation at Trump’s seizure of a foreign head of state – albeit an unpopular one – the U.N.

Security Council was due to debate its legality and implications. Russia, China and leftist allies of Venezuela have condemned the U.

S. Caracas’ staunchest backer Cuba, long rumored to be in charge of Maduro’s security, said 32 of its military and intelligence personnel died during the U.

S. raid.

Washington’s allies, most of whom did not recognize Maduro as president due to vote-rigging allegations, have been more muted, stressing the need for dialogue and adherence to law. “Judging by the reactions from European leaders to date, I suspect that U.

S. allies will equivocate exquisitely in the Security Council,” said International Crisis Group analyst Richard Gowan.

Maduro and wife due in Manhattan court Maduro, a 63-year-old former bus driver, union leader and foreign minister named by the dying Chavez to replace him in 2013, had been held in jail in Brooklyn, along with his wife Cilia Flores, 69. Maduro is likely to be in a cell for 23 hours a day at the Metropolitan Detention Center where hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s friend Ghislaine Maxwell both passed through and denounced inhumane conditions. Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras convicted of drug trafficking charges before being pardoned in December by Trump, was also housed there.

The Maduros were due in Manhattan federal court at 1200 p.m.

EST (1700 GMT). Maduro and his wife were escorted by armed officers at the detention center in Brooklyn shortly after 7 a.

m. local time and led to a helicopter, video from WABC showed.

Maduro is accused of overseeing a cocaine-trafficking network that partnered with violent groups including Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombian FARC rebels and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. Maduro has long denied all the allegations, saying they were a mask for imperialist designs on Venezuela’s oil.

Trump has also justified Maduro’s capture as a response to an influx of Venezuelan immigrants – one in five have left during an economic collapse – and the nationalization of U.S.

oil interests decades ago. “We’re taking back what they stole,” he said on Sunday, adding that U.

S. oil companies will return to Venezuela.

“We’re in charge.” Venezuelans nervous about future Inside Venezuela, Maduro opponents have kept celebrations on hold as his allies remain in power and there is no sign of the military turning against them, even though many suspect some insiders helped in Saturday’s operation.

Venezuelans have been stocking up on food and medicines in case of instability, but streets are quieter than normal as everyone wonders what is coming next. On global markets, Venezuela’s default-stricken government bonds surged, oil prices edged up, and stock markets rose in Asia and Europe as investors bought defense stocks after the raid on Venezuela stirred fresh geopolitical concerns.

To the disappointment of Venezuela’s opposition and diaspora, Trump has dismissed the idea of opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado taking over, saying she lacks support. Machado was banned from the 2024 election but has said her ally Edmundo Gonzalez won overwhelmingly and thus has a mandate to rule.

Trump’s raid has created a domestic political storm, with opposition Democrats saying they were misled. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was due to brief top lawmakers later on Monday.

While a handful of conservative figures have criticized the Venezuela operation as a betrayal of Trump’s “America First” pledge to avoid foreign entanglements, most supporters have largely praised it as a swift, painless win. .

Washington. The U.

S. captured Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro in a military operation early on Saturday morning, culminating a months-long pressure campaign by President Donald Trump’s administration that drew condemnation from some international leaders.

Maduro was on a warship bound for New York to face criminal charges, according to U.S.

officials. Below is a look at the legality of the U.

S. action.

What happened? On Saturday, U.S.

forces attacked Venezuela and seized Maduro, who has been widely condemned as an illegitimate leader, and his wife Cilia Flores. Trump had been urging Maduro to cede power and has accused him of supporting drug cartels that Washington designated as terror groups, alleging they were responsible for thousands of U.

S. deaths tied to illegal drug use.

Since September, U.S.

forces had killed more than 100 people in at least 30 strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats from Venezuela in the Caribbean and Pacific, which legal experts said likely violated U.S.

and international law. How did the U.

S. justify the action? U.

S. authorities said the Justice Department sought military assistance to apprehend Maduro, who had been indicted by a New York grand jury along with his wife, son, two political leaders and an alleged leader of an international gang.

They were charged with crimes related to terrorism, drugs and weapons. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on social media that the defendants “will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.

” However, at a press conference, Trump blamed Venezuela for stealing U.S.

oil interests and said Washington would take them back and planned to run Venezuela for a period of time, without offering specifics. Experts in international law said the Trump administration had muddled the legal issues by claiming the operation was both a targeted law enforcement mission and the potential prelude to long-term control of Venezuela by the U.

S. “You cannot say this was a law enforcement operation and then turn around and say now we need to run the country,” said Jeremy Paul, a professor at Northeastern University specializing in constitutional law.

“It just doesn’t make any sense.” What does the law say? The U.

S. Congress has the power to declare war but the president is the commander-in-chief, and presidents of both parties have justified carrying out military action when it was limited in scope and in the national interest.

Trump’s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles told Vanity Fair magazine in an interview published late last year that if Trump were to authorize “some activity on land” in Venezuela he would need approval from Congress. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Congress was not notified before Saturday’s operation.

International law prohibits the use of force in international relations except for narrow exceptions such as authorization by the U.N.

Security Council or in self-defense. Drug trafficking and gang violence are considered criminal activity and do not rise to the accepted international standard of an armed conflict that would justify a military response, according to legal experts.

“A criminal indictment alone doesn’t provide authority to use military force to depose a foreign government, and the administration will probably hang this also on a theory of self-defense,” said Matthew Waxman, a law professor at Columbia University specializing in national security law. The U.

S. has not recognized Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela since 2019, following an election the U.

S. said was rigged.

Is there a precedent? The U.S.

has captured criminal suspects in foreign countries including Libya but it has sought consent of local authorities. While the administration describes Maduro as an illegitimate leader, Washington has not recognized another Venezuelan leader who could have authorized the capture of Maduro.

In 1989, the U.S.

arrested General Manuel Noriega, then the leader of Panama, in similar circumstances. Noriega had been indicted on drug-related charges and Washington said it was acting to protect U.

S. citizens after Panamanian forces had killed a U.

S. soldier.

The United States had also alleged Noriega was an illegitimate leader and had recognized as the country’s leader the candidate who Noriega had claimed to have defeated in a recent election. The former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez, was extradited to the United States in 2022 and later convicted on drug-related charges and sentenced to 45 years in prison.

Trump pardoned Hernandez in December. Legal experts were skeptical that the United States would face any meaningful accountability for its actions in Venezuela, even if they were unlawful given the lack of enforcement mechanisms in international law.

“It’s hard to see how any legal body could impose practical consequences on the administration,” said Paul, of Northeastern. .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s opposition party Chadema has demanded the unconditional release of its national chairman, Mr Tundu Lissu, who has been facing treason charges since early last year.

The opposition party has also called for constitutional reforms, the establishment of an independent electoral commission, an international investigation into killings and abductions, and the lifting of the suspension on Chadema’s political activities. Delivering the party’s 2026 New Year’s message, Chadema National Vice Chairman for the Mainland, Mr John Heche, said 2025 was an extraordinary year.

“It was a year of difficult decisions and great pain, but also a historic awakening of Tanzanians’ resolve to demand justice, freedom, and genuine democracy,” he said. Mr Heche said Chadema made history through its national general assembly, where Mr Lissu was elected party chairman.

However, as of January 3, 2026, it has been 269 days since Mr Lissu’s arrest and detention in a case he described as false, arbitrary, and politically motivated. “The party wants Mr Lissu released unconditionally, because he is not guilty, has not lied, and has not incited violence,” he said.

On internal unity, Mr Heche said: “Differences of opinion within a democratic party are not divisions; they are the foundation of robust debate and strong decision-making. When we agree to disagree respectfully and unite once decisions are made, Chadema gains unshakable moral and political strength.

” Reflecting on the October 29, 2025, General Election, Mr Heche said it left Tanzania with political wounds that will take time to heal. He cited the abuse of state institutions, including the Registrar of Political Parties and the courts, against government critics and the opposition, particularly Chadema, which was allegedly barred from political activity under false pretexts.

Mr Heche praised the No Reforms, No Election movement as a historic sign of public awareness. “Without systemic reforms, elections are not a solution but a problem.

Citizens’ voices have become a philosophy of political liberation,” he said. Regarding deaths reported during the election period, Mr Heche said: “These were not ordinary political events; they were serious human rights violations against the principles of international law.

That is why Chadema insists on a credible, independent, internationally represented investigation.” He stressed that internal mechanisms alone cannot address the scale of the harm.

“A nation that values its global reputation cannot remain silent while its citizens’ blood is shed without truth and accountability,” he said. “We want a Tanzania governed by a living constitution, a pact of rights between citizens and the state, not empty words.

A nation ruled by law that protects human rights as the foundation of dignity, not at the mercy of a few rulers,” Mr Heche added. He said Chadema is demanding a new constitution to restore the integrity of votes, accountability, and access to justice for all, alongside an independent electoral commission to safeguard citizens’ voices.

“Reconciliation cannot exist without justice, and justice requires accountability. Without acknowledging wrongdoing and holding perpetrators responsible, reconciliation becomes a form of memory suppression,” he said.

The opposition party also criticised the Registrar of Political Parties for involvement in legal actions that suspended Chadema’s political activities and seized party assets, describing the moves as attempts to silence the voice of justice and democracy. .

Shanghai. The U.

S. attack on Venezuela will embolden China to strengthen its territorial claims over areas such as Taiwan and parts of the South China Sea but will not hasten any potential invasion of Taiwan, analysts said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s considerations about Taiwan and his timeline are separate from the situation in Latin America, influenced more by China’s domestic situation than by U.S.

actions, they said. Still, analysts said, President Donald Trump’s audacious attack on Saturday, capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, hands China an unexpected opportunity that Beijing will likely use in the near term to amplify criticism of Washington and bolster its own standing on the international stage.

Further out, Beijing could leverage Trump’s move to defend its stance against the U.S.

on territorial issues including Taiwan, Tibet and islands in the East and South China seas. ‘Cheap ammunition’ for a China pushback “Washington’s consistent, long-standing arguments are always that the Chinese actions are violating international law but they are now damaging that,” said William Yang, an analyst at International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based NGO.

“It’s really creating a lot of openings and cheap ammunition for the Chinese to push back against the U.S.

in the future.” China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own province – an assertion the island’s government rejects – and claims almost all of the South China Sea, a position that puts it at odds with several Southeast Asian nations that also claim parts of the vital trade route.

China’s foreign ministry and Taiwan Affairs Office, and Taiwan’s presidential office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Beijing condemned Trump’s strike on Venezuela, saying it violated international law and threatened peace and security in Latin America.

It has demanded the U.S.

release Maduro and his wife, who are being detained in New York awaiting trial. Hours before his capture, Maduro met with a high-level Chinese delegation in Caracas, according to photos he posted on his Instagram page.

The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the whereabouts of the delegation, which included China’s special representative for Latin American and Caribbean affairs, Qiu Xiaoqi. On Sunday China’s official Xinhua news agency called the U.

S. attack “naked hegemonic behaviour.

” “The US invasion has made everyone see more and more the fact that the so-called ‘rules-based international order’ in the mouth of the United States is actually just a ‘predatory order based on US interests’,” state-run Xinhua news agency said. ‘China isn’t the U.

S., Taiwan isn’t Venezuela’ Taiwan, in particular, has been facing growing pressure from Beijing.

China last week encircled the island in its most extensive war games to date, showcasing Beijing’s ability to cut off the island from outside support in a conflict. But analysts said they did not expect China to capitalise on the Venezuelan situation to escalate that into an attack anytime soon.

“Taking over Taiwan depends on China’s developing but still insufficient capability rather than what Trump did in a distant continent,” said Shi Yinhong, professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing. Neil Thomas, a fellow on Chinese politics at the Asia Society, said China sees Taiwan as an internal affair and so was unlikely to cite U.

S. actions against Venezuela as precedent for any cross-strait military strikes.

“Beijing will want a clear contrast with Washington to trumpet its claims to stand for peace, development and moral leadership,” Thomas said. “Xi does not care about Venezuela more than he cares about China.

He’ll be hoping that it turns into a quagmire for the United States.” Wang Ting-yu, a senior lawmaker from Taiwan’s ruling party who sits on the parliament’s foreign affairs and defence committee, rejected the idea that China might follow the U.

S. example and strike Taiwan.

“China has never lacked hostility toward Taiwan, but it genuinely lacks the feasible means,” Wang posted on Facebook. “China is not the United States, and Taiwan is certainly not Venezuela.

If China could actually pull it off, it would have done so long ago!” Still, the situation amplifies risks for Taiwan and could press Taipei to seek more favour from the Trump administration, some observers said. On China’s Weibo social media platform, discussions of the U.

S. attack trended heavily on Sunday, with several users saying Beijing should learn from what Trump did.

Lev Nachman, a political science professor at National Taiwan University, said he expected Taiwan’s government to express lightly worded support for American action on Venezuela. Taiwan has not yet made any statement.

“What I do think Trump’s actions could do is to help Xi Jinping’s narrative in the future to create more justification for action against Taiwan,” he said. .

Kibaha. The government is preparing to table the Infant Registration Bill in the next Parliament, a move that will allow the National Identification Authority (Nida) to begin registering children from birth.

The initiative aims to lay a strong foundation for early citizen identification, facilitate access to social services, and strengthen national security systems. If the Bill is passed, children will be registered and assigned identification numbers to enable access to various social services, and be issued national ID cards using the same numbers upon turning 18. Speaking on Saturday, January 3, 2025, at the 28th session of the Nida Staff Council held in Kibaha, Nida Director General James Kaji said registering infants would ensure children are legally recognised from the start of their lives and eliminate challenges that often arise when registering adults.

He added that the initiative would also make it easier for citizens to access healthcare, education, insurance, and other social services, while providing accurate population data to help the government plan and implement development programmes efficiently. Mr Kaji also urged more than 300,000 citizens whose identification cards have already been processed to collect them from their respective district offices, noting that delays in collecting IDs lead to losses for the government and deny citizens the opportunity to use the documents to access services.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr Ally Gugu, emphasised the importance of professionalism, integrity, and public service ethics among Nida staff, while encouraging collaboration among government institutions to enhance accountability and service delivery to citizens. Some Coast Region residents, including Ms Swaumu Mfyome, called on Nida to step up public education and awareness campaigns on ready IDs, urging citizens to collect and use them.

They said this would help the government avoid unnecessary losses. .

Dar es Salaam. The Kigoma Regional Police have said that reports circulating on social media about an accident involving musician and entrepreneur Zuwena Mohamed, popularly known as Shilole, have not been officially lodged at any police station.

The report of the alleged accident was made on Saturday, January 3, 2025, by the Kigoma Urban legislator, Mr Clayton Revocatus, popularly known as Baba Levo. He said the artist was involved in an accident in the Malagalasi area of Kigoma, a short distance before entering the Tabora Region.

Shilole was travelling from Kigoma after attending a “Pilau Day” event organised by the lawmaker, heading to Dodoma. Baba Levo said the car they were using hit a cow on the road, and Shilole was taken to Dar es Salaam for further medical treatment.

However, the Kigoma Regional Police Commander, Philemon Makungu, said in a statement issued Saturday, January 3, 2026, that no report of the accident has been filed at any police station in the region, despite claims that the Toyota Alphard carrying the artist hit a cow in the Malagalasi area of Uvinza District. “The truth is that this accident report has not been filed at any police station in Kigoma Region,” said Mr Makungu.

He explained that, under the law, any driver involved in a road accident causing death, injury or damage to a vehicle must report it to the nearest police station. Reporting is necessary to obtain medical assistance, investigate the incident, and take appropriate legal action against the person responsible.

“We advise any driver involved in an accident to report it to a police station so that an investigation can be conducted and legal action taken against the person responsible,” he added. The police emphasised that if the accident did occur, Shilole should report it officially so that an investigation can be carried out.

Meanwhile, the Kigoma Regional Police urged all drivers to continue observing road safety laws to prevent accidents caused by negligence. A day after the police statement, on Sunday, January 4, 2026, Shilole posted on Instagram, “I have seen God with my own eyes.

After the accident, I am standing today by His grace. Praise and glory belong to Him forever; every breath I take today is a testimony to Him.

“Thank you for your messages, thank you for your calls to my close ones. Thank you very much for your prayers.

Indeed, God is very good.” .

Dar es Salaam. Morocco booked their place in the quarter-finals of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 with a narrow 10 victory over Tanzania in Rabat on Sunday, January 4, 2026, but their progression was clouded by intense debate over refereeing decisions that left the Taifa Stars feeling deeply aggrieved.

Brahim Diaz’s second-half goal proved decisive at a packed Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex, yet the match will be remembered not only for Morocco’s patience and quality but also for a series of controversial calls by Malian referee Boubou Traore, particularly a late incident in the penalty area that denied Tanzania a possible equaliser. From the opening whistle, it was evident that Tanzania had arrived with belief and a clear tactical identity.

Organised, disciplined, and fearless, Miguel Gamondi’s side sat deep, compressed spaces between the lines, and frustrated the tournament hosts throughout a tense and tactical first half. In fact, it was Tanzania who carved out the first clear chance of the night.

In just the third minute, Seleman Mwalimu released Simon Msuva clean through on goal with Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou caught out of position. With the net gaping, Msuva headed wide, a miss that would later loom large in a match decided by the finest of margins.

Morocco responded by asserting control through possession. The Atlas Lions dominated the ball, circulated it confidently from side to side and pushed their fullbacks high up the pitch.

However, they repeatedly ran into a well-drilled Tanzanian defensive block that closed passing lanes and limited space in the final third. Captain Achraf Hakimi, leading Morocco for the first time at this edition of the tournament, attempted to inject urgency from the right flank, while Azzedine Ounahi and Bilal El Khannouss probed centrally.

Still, clear-cut chances remained scarce, with Tanzania’s backline holding firm and goalkeeper Hussein Masalanga calm and assured whenever he was tested. Morocco believed they had finally broken the deadlock in the 24th minute when Ismail Saibari tapped in from close range.

The celebrations were short-lived, however, as VAR intervened and ruled the goal out for offside. The decision heightened the tension inside the stadium and underlined the hosts’ frustration as the first half ended goalless.

After the restart, Walid Regragui’s men emerged with renewed urgency. Diaz forced a corner with a glancing header early in the second half, and moments later El Khannouss fired narrowly over the crossbar in the 52nd minute as Morocco began to turn the screw.

Yet Tanzania again threatened to shock the hosts. In the 56th minute, Feisal Salum “Toto” found himself unmarked inside the Moroccan penalty area following a swift counter-attack.

With time and space, the Azam FC midfielder blazed his effort over the bar, squandering what could have been a historic goal on the biggest stage. The decisive moment arrived in the 64th minute.

Diaz, Morocco’s most creative and dangerous player, produced a moment of individual brilliance, cutting inside and squeezing a precise finish from a tight angle past Masalanga. The goal was the fourth of the tournament, sending the Rabat crowd into raptures and lifting him clear at the top of the AFCON scoring charts.

Despite going behind, Tanzania refused to fold. They pushed higher up the pitch, committed more bodies forward, and searched relentlessly for a way back into the contest.

Morocco, meanwhile, struggled to kill the game and increasingly felt the pressure of protecting their slender lead. As the clock ticked down, controversy took centre stage.

Deep into injury time, Tanzanian midfielder Idd Suleiman was clearly pushed and fouled inside the penalty area by Moroccan defender Adam Masina during a chaotic scramble. Replays suggested undeniable contact, prompting furious protests from Tanzanian players and the technical bench.

Referee Boubou Traore waved play on and, to the disbelief of many, declined to consult VAR. The decision sparked widespread debate, with accusations that key calls throughout the match appeared to favour the hosts.

Several fouls and marginal decisions also seemed to go against Tanzania, adding to a growing sense of injustice among the East Africans. While refereeing errors are part of football, the refusal to conduct a VAR check in such a decisive moment left Tanzania feeling robbed of a potential lifeline and cast a shadow over an otherwise gripping AFCON encounter.

Morocco eventually held on to secure their place in the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of the Round of 16 clash between South Africa and Cameroon at the Stade Al Madina in Rabat. For Tanzania, the defeat marked the end of a courageous and historic AFCON campaign.

Reaching the knockout stages for the first time, the Taifa Stars earned respect across the continent with their organization, resilience, and fearless approach against Africa’s top-ranked side. Speaking after the match, Diaz, who was named Man of the Match, acknowledged the scale of the challenge.

“The competition is growing in intensity, and we have just faced our toughest opposition so far against this Tanzanian team,” he said. “Not everything worked, but fortunately we managed to secure our qualification.

” Tanzania head coach Gamondi echoed that pride despite the heartbreak. “I am so proud of what my team produced,” he said.

“So proud of my players, both in their attitude and tactically. They showed that the gap between Morocco and us is not as big as people think.

We will come back stronger; I am convinced of that.” .

Caracas. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was in a New York detention center on Sunday after President Donald Trump ordered an audacious U.

S. raid to capture the South American leader and take control of the country and its vast oil reserves.

As part of the dramatic operation early on Saturday that knocked out electricity in parts of Caracas and included strikes on military installations, U.S.

Special Forces seized Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and transported them via helicopter to a U.S.

Navy ship offshore before flying them to the U.S.

“We will run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump told a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. For months, his administration criticized Maduro, 63, over what it called his involvement in shipping drugs to the U.

S. It ramped up pressure with a massive military build-up in the Caribbean and a series of deadly missile attacks on alleged drug-running boats.

Potential power vacuum in Venezuela While many Western allies oppose Maduro and say he stole Venezuela’s 2024 election, Trump’s boasts about controlling the nation and exploiting its oil revived painful memories of past U.S.

interventions in Latin America, Iraq and Afghanistan. Some legal experts questioned the legality of an operation to seize the head of state of a foreign power, while Democrats who said they were misled during recent Congress briefings demanded a plan for what is to follow.

Trump said as part of the takeover, major U.S.

oil companies would move back into Venezuela, which has the world’s largest oil reserves, and refurbish badly degraded oil infrastructure, a process experts said could take years. He said he was open to sending U.

S. forces into Venezuela.

“We’re not afraid of boots on the ground,” he said. A plane carrying Maduro landed near New York City on Saturday night, and he was helicoptered to the city before being taken by a large convoy to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn under a heavy police guard.

Images released by U.S.

authorities showed the leader handcuffed and blindfolded during the flight, and later being led down a hallway at the offices of the U.S.

Drug Enforcement Administration, where he was heard wishing a “happy New Year.” capturing its president, Nicolas Maduro, on Saturday, and promising to put the South American country under temporary U.

S. control.

Indicted on various federal charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, Maduro expected to make an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court on Monday, according to a Justice Department official. It is unclear how Trump plans to oversee Venezuela.

U.S.

forces have no control over the country, and Maduro’s government appears not only to still be in charge but to have no appetite for cooperating with Washington. Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, appeared on Venezuelan television on Saturday afternoon with other top officials to decry what she called a kidnapping.

“We demand the immediate release of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores,” Rodriguez said, calling Maduro “the only president of Venezuela.” A Venezuelan court ordered Rodriguez to assume the position of interim president.

Recalling past regime changes Trump did not say who will lead Venezuela when the U.S.

cedes control, but appeared to rule out working with opposition figure and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado, widely seen as Maduro’s most credible opponent. “She doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country,” he said.

In Venezuela, the streets were mostly calm after a rush for groceries and fuel. Soldiers patrolled some parts and small pro-Maduro crowds gathered in Caracas.

Others expressed relief. “I’m happy, I doubted for a moment that it was happening because it’s like a movie,” said merchant Carolina Pimentel, 37, in the city of Maracay.

Many Venezuelan migrants around the world erupted in celebration. “We are free.

We are all happy that the dictatorship has fallen and that we have a free country,” said Khaty Yanez, who lives in the Chilean capital Santiago, one of an estimated 7.7 million Venezuelans 20 percent of the population – who have left the country since 2014. The U.

N. Security Council planned to meet on Monday to discuss the actions, which Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described as “a dangerous precedent.

” Russia and China, both major backers of Venezuela, criticized the U.S.

“China firmly opposes such hegemonic behavior by the U.S.

, which seriously violates international law, violates Venezuela’s sovereignty and threatens peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean,” China’s foreign ministry said. Trump’s comments about an open-ended military presence in Venezuela echoed the rhetoric around past invasions in Iraq and Afghanistan, both of which ended in American withdrawals after years of costly occupation and thousands of U.

S. casualties.

A U.S.

occupation “won’t cost us a penny” because the United States would be reimbursed from the “money coming out of the ground,” Trump said, referring to Venezuela’s oil reserves, a subject he returned to repeatedly during Saturday’s press conference. Trump’s focus on foreign affairs provides fuel for Democrats to criticize him ahead of midterm congressional elections in November, when control of both houses of Congress is at stake, with Republicans controlling both by narrow margins.

Opinion polls show the top concern for voters is high prices at home, not foreign policy. Trump also runs the risk of alienating some of his own supporters, who have backed his “America First” agenda and oppose foreign interventions.

.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his country was not involved in the United States’ strikes on Venezuela and that he wanted to speak with US President Donald Trump and find out the full facts of what had happened. “I want to establish the facts first.

I want to speak to President Trump. I want to speak to allies.

I can be absolutely clear that we were not involvedand I always say and believe we should all uphold international law,” he said in a statement to British broadcasters. Sir Keir said he was working with the UK embassy in Venezuela to ensure around 500 British citizens in the South American country are safe.

Below is how other countries reacted to the US strikes: 1. Russia: “This morning, the United States committed an act of armed aggression against Venezuela.

This is deeply concerning and condemnable. We support the statement by Venezuelan authorities and leaders of Latin American countries calling for an immediate meeting of the UN Security Council.

” 2. Iran “What matters is that when a person realizes the enemy is arrogantly trying to impose something on the country, on the officials, on the government, and on the nation, one must stand firmly against the enemy and bare one’s chest in resistance.

We will not yield to the enemy.” 3.

Cuba “Cuba denounces and demands an urgent reaction from the international community against the criminal US attack on Venezuela.” 4.

European Union EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas: “The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected.

We call for restraint. The safety of EU citizens in the country is our top priority.

” 5. Colombia “Colombia reaffirms its unconditional commitment to the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, in particular respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, the prohibition of the use or threat of use of force, and the peaceful settlement of international disputes.

In this regard, the Colombian Government rejects any unilateral military action that could aggravate the situation or put the civilian population at risk.” 6.

Spain “Spain calls for de-escalation and moderation, and for action to always be taken in accordance with international law and the principles of the UN Charter. In this regard, Spain is willing to offer its good offices to achieve a peaceful and negotiated solution to the current crisis.

” 7. Germany “Germany is monitoring the situation in Venezuela very closely and following the latest reports with great concernThe foreign ministry is in close contact with the embassy in Caracas.

” 8. Belgium “The safety of our citizens is a top priority.

Our embassy in Bogota, which is responsible for Venezuela, and our services in Brussels are fully mobilised. The situation is being closely monitored, in coordination with our European partners.

” 9. Trinidad and Tobago “Trinidad and Tobago is NOT a participant in any of these ongoing military operations.

Trinidad and Tobago continues to maintain peaceful relations with the people of Venezuela.” 10. Mexico “The Mexican government strongly condemns and rejects the military actions carried out unilaterally in recent hours by the armed forces of the United States of America against targets in the territory of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in clear violation of Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations.

” “Mexico emphatically reiterates that dialogue and negotiation are the only legitimate and effective means of resolving existing differences, and therefore reaffirms its willingness to support any efforts to facilitate dialogue, mediation, or accompaniment that contribute to preserving regional peace and avoiding confrontation.” 11. Argentina “FREEDOM MOVES FORWARD.

LONG LIVE FREEDOM DAMMIT”, wrote President Javier Milei, a strong regional ally of Donald Trump. Milei uploaded a video with his statement on X, where he is seen talking at a summit and describing Maduro as a threat for the region and backing the pressure Trump was putting on Caracas.

“The time to have a timid approach on this subject has passed”, Milei had said, according to a video on his X account. .

Dar es Salaam/Dodoma. As criticism mounted over the design and construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) following the suspension of services due to heavy rains, the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) has dismissed claims that the disruption was caused by design or construction flaws.

Speaking to the sister publication Mwananchi on January 2, 2026, TRC Director General Machibya Masanja said the suspension was prompted by erosion of riverbanks near a railway bridge, not by any structural failure of the railway itself. “As a precautionary measure, we decided to suspend services to allow for reinforcement of the riverbanks,” he said.

On December 31, 2025, TRC announced the suspension of SGR services on the MorogoroDodoma and DodomaMorogoro routes, citing infrastructure damage caused by heavy rains in Kidete area, Kilosa District in Morogoro Region, and Godegode area in Mpwapwa District, Dodoma Region. The announcement triggered criticism from some members of the public and politicians, who questioned how a railway completed barely a year ago could already be experiencing problems.

Online reactions Through his X (formerly Twitter) account, Chadema Mainland Vice Chairman John Heche criticised the project, linking the incident to what he termed sabotage. “A mega project worth trillions of shillings has not even completed a year of operation — in fact, it has not even reached Mwanza.

Why was there no proper feasibility study and detailed design?” he wrote. Similar views were shared by another citizen via WhatsApp, who argued that the country should not bear repair costs while the project is still under the contractor’s liability period.

The individual attributed the problem to the contractor’s limited experience, saying the project was their first of such magnitude. “This was their first major project, so it was a learning curve,” the message read.

The citizen warned against using taxpayers’ money to fix defects, calling for the contractor to take full responsibility for any shortcomings. Another social media user, Martin Masese, said any damage at this stage should be borne by the contractor, adding that alleged corruption in the project’s design could have contributed to the problem.

TRC response Mr Masanja dismissed the allegations, saying the incident had nothing to do with design flaws or feasibility studies, and stressing that the railway line had not been washed away as claimed. “The railway has not been cut off.

What happened is erosion of riverbanks near a bridge. For the safety of passengers and equipment, we decided to suspend services temporarily to carry out reinforcement works,” he said.

He explained that the suspension was a safety precaution, noting that while trains could technically pass, the erosion posed a potential risk. “It’s not that trains cannot pass.

But you must take precautions and strengthen the riverbanks. I personally passed through that section earlier today in the locomotive,” he said during an interview at 12:51pm on January 2.

Mr Masanja added that engineers were assessing the situation to prevent future risks, reiterating that the railway itself remained intact. Responding to claims that feasibility studies were not conducted, he said: “We are engineers.

We work based on evidence, not rhetoric. The bridge was designed to last at least 120 years.

” He said the bridge’s foundation extends 30 metres underground — equivalent to a 10-storey building — while its pillars go as deep as 30 to 40 metres, making structural failure highly unlikely within its design lifespan. He contrasted this with some bridges on the old metre gauge railway (MGR), many of which were designed more than 100 years ago and have exceeded their intended lifespan.

Mr Masanja stressed that the erosion was exacerbated by human activities such as deforestation, which had been identified during the feasibility study as a long-term risk. To address this, he said plans were already in place to construct dams that would regulate water flow and stabilise riverbanks.

Prime Minister’s remarks Speaking during a visit to the affected area on January 2, Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba said the suspension of SGR services was not unusual and should be seen as a responsible safety measure. “When there are strong winds affecting power lines, electricity flow becomes unstable.

Those wishing ill for Tanzania want trains to continue operating regardless. You wouldn’t even transport potatoes in such conditions, yet you want people to travel on electric trains during storms,” he said.

Dr Nchemba likened the situation to international airlines, which routinely postpone flights during severe weather. “When it comes to safety, we should not quarrel or trade blame.

The work we are rushing to do can only be done if we are alive,” he said. Permanent solution The Prime Minister directed experts to finalise technical assessments to pave the way for dam construction as a long-term solution.

He said construction would begin in Kidete, where funds are already available, followed by efforts to secure financing for seven additional dams. “There are people who celebrate and mock when others face difficulties.

I want to assure them that the government is fully alert. Technical work is underway and contractors are being secured,” he said.

He said Sh23 million had already been released to top up funds for relocating affected residents and providing humanitarian assistance, noting that Sh63 million had been requested in total and efforts were ongoing to secure the balance. Dr Nchemba also warned against the tendency of some citizens to sell plots allocated in safe areas and return to flood-prone zones.

“It has become common for people to sell safe plots once the land dries up and move back to dangerous areas,” he said. He further urged local governments to clearly demarcate high-risk zones instead of allowing construction to proceed only for residents to be later evicted.

Ticket availability Meanwhile, some passengers have complained about difficulties obtaining SGR tickets within 24 hours of travel. TRC has acknowledged the challenge and said it plans to address it by increasing routes starting in the third week of January.

“SGR transport should not be like this. On the MorogoroDodoma route, you should be able to travel whenever you want.

Why should you buy a ticket two days in advance for a journey of less than 300 kilometres?” asked passenger Gervas Mathayo. Another passenger, Neema Uledi, said ticket shortages were more pronounced during holidays and weekends.

“Many of us expected SGR to be the solution, but demand seems to be exceeding supply,” she said. Responding to the complaints, Mr Masanja said demand for SGR services currently outstrips the number of available routes.

“It is true demand is high, but we are addressing the issue. We are in the final technical stages of increasing routes between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma,” he said.

He said the process would be completed by the third week of January, with additional routes introduced in the fourth week. Mr Masanja added that TRC has sufficient trains stationed in Dodoma, and the new operating model will allow trains to pass each other instead of turning back immediately, enabling the transport of more passengers each day.

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