Basita Michael Calls Out Donald Trump after Maduro’s Abduction

A prominent Sierra Leonean human rights lawyer, Basita Michael, has strongly criticised the actions of United States President Donald Trump in Venezuela, describing them as a violation of international law.

The criticism follows an announcement by the U.S. government on Saturday that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been abducted during a special operation in Caracas. According to the statement, President Trump also asserted that the United States would oversee governance in Venezuela pending what he described as a “judicious transition.”

Reacting to the development, Michael said the actions attributed to the U.S. president were “illegal, unlawful, and a blatant breach of international law.” She argued that the alleged abduction and any attempt to assume control of another sovereign state undermine established international legal principles.

Michael specifically cited Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. The article requires all UN member states to refrain from military action that infringes on the sovereignty of other nations.

She noted that the situation raises serious concerns about how international actors respect and uphold international law, particularly when major global powers are involved. Michael also expressed concern over the implications for legal education, saying such actions could create confusion for students studying international criminal law.

“Even criminal gangs do not operate in such arbitrariness,” she said, adding that the issue is especially troubling given the United States’ role as a leading global actor.