Venezuela’s deepening conflict

The standoff in Venezuela between socialist President Nicolas Maduro and the self-proclaimed president of the country Juan Guaidó promises to escalate into an open civil war, unless regional and international efforts succeed in containing the crisis and finding a solution.

Venezuela has closed its borders with neighbouring Colombia and Brazil to prevent the entry of highly needed humanitarian assistance.

President Maduro still has the armed forces of the country on his side. In a sense, the security forces in the country are the key, and as long as they remain loyal to Maduro, there is not much that can be done to uproot the incumbent president. Yet, this loyalty remains shaky and the armed forces can be expected to shift allegiance if bloody riots in the country break out and the country appears to be on the brink of a civil war.

US President Donald Trump’s open support for Guaidó has complicated the conflict, which should be resolved by the people of Venezuela, by holding free and fair presidential election as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government must not prevent the entry of food and other humanitarian assistance to the impoverished people of the country. Venezuela is experiencing hyperinflation and other dire economic and fiscal problems due to mismanagement by the ruling regime. Millions of Venezuelans have fled the country and probably more would do the same given the chance.

This is the time for a UN intervention, even though the world is split on how to go about intervening in the conflict. With Washington openly on the side of Guaidó and Russia supporting the other side, there is hardly international unanimity on how to begin a process of healing in the country.

World leaders must get together and agree on a common denominator to end the conflict that threatens to escalate into something more ominous.

If only Moscow and Washington could agree on a formula to end the crisis, then there could be a glimmer of hope for ending the deepening conflict. Otherwise, South America could be on the verge of a major catastrophe that would undermine the security and stability of the entire continent.