Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni believes Africa should treat the U.S. military raid that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro as a warning. Speaking at a media engagement with social‑media influencers in Kampala on Jan. 5, 2026, Museveni said the United States’ attack on Venezuela revealed that African countries lack the naval, aerospace and space capabilities needed to defend themselves.
He argued that only a united East African federation could give the region the resources to build capacity on land, at sea, in the air and in space. The comments came days after U.S. forces stormed Venezuela, seized Maduro and flew him to New York to face drug‑trafficking charges.
Why Museveni wants an East African federation
As reported by Monitor, Museveni linked the security shortfall to Africa’s political fragmentation. He recalled that Tanzanian leader Julius Nyerere supported forming an East African federation in 1963, but Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya and Uganda’s Milton Obote opted to remain “big fish in small ponds”.
This mindset, Museveni said, leaves individual countries unable to build navies or access the sea, making them vulnerable when crises strike. He urged East Africans to revive the federation idea so that the region could pool resources, protect sea lanes and invest in advanced technologies. The Ugandan leader is currently chair of the Non‑Aligned Movement, a bloc of mostly Global South nations, which amplifies his call for unity.
Americans operate in four dimensions, Africa doesn’t
Museveni contrasted the U.S. attack on Venezuela with Africa’s limited capabilities. According to reports from ChimpReports, he told youths that the Americans “operate from four dimensions” sea, air, space and land while Latin American countries lack navies and have little space capability. In his view, this technological advantage allowed U.S. forces to strike Venezuelan targets and apprehend Maduro before Latin American defences could respond.
Museveni warned that if African nations remain fragmented, they will be similarly exposed; a country may feel powerful in its own territory but “when trouble comes, you may not survive”. He said Africa must invest in naval fleets, air‑defence systems and space technology to avoid repeating Latin America’s vulnerability.
Building capacity across land, sea, air and space
Museveni elaborated on the “gaps” exposed by the Venezuelan raid. He said powerful countries can see adversaries from space, launch attacks from the ocean and air, and are now moving on land. Africa’s response, he argued, should be a multi‑dimensional defence strategy that includes developing a navy and investing in satellites and aerospace technology.
POLITICAL ANALYSIS
Museveni: US Strike on Venezuela Is a Wake‑Up Call for Africa
Jan 5, 2026
May 15, 2026
5 min read
Published
Updated:
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni believes Africa should treat the U.S. military raid that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro as a warning. Speaking at a media engagement with social‑media influencers in Kampala on Jan. 5, 2026, Museveni said the United States’ attack on Venezuela revealed that African countries lack the naval, aerospace and space capabilities needed to defend themselves.
He argued that only a united East African federation could give the region the resources to build capacity on land, at sea, in the air and in space. The comments came days after U.S. forces stormed Venezuela, seized Maduro and flew him to New York to face drug‑trafficking charges.
Why Museveni wants an East African federation
As reported by Monitor, Museveni linked the security shortfall to Africa’s political fragmentation. He recalled that Tanzanian leader Julius Nyerere supported forming an East African federation in 1963, but Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya and Uganda’s Milton Obote opted to remain “big fish in small ponds”.
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This mindset, Museveni said, leaves individual countries unable to build navies or access the sea, making them vulnerable when crises strike. He urged East Africans to revive the federation idea so that the region could pool resources, protect sea lanes and invest in advanced technologies. The Ugandan leader is currently chair of the Non‑Aligned Movement, a bloc of mostly Global South nations, which amplifies his call for unity.
Americans operate in four dimensions, Africa doesn’t
Museveni contrasted the U.S. attack on Venezuela with Africa’s limited capabilities. According to reports from ChimpReports, he told youths that the Americans “operate from four dimensions” sea, air, space and land while Latin American countries lack navies and have little space capability. In his view, this technological advantage allowed U.S. forces to strike Venezuelan targets and apprehend Maduro before Latin American defences could respond.
Museveni warned that if African nations remain fragmented, they will be similarly exposed; a country may feel powerful in its own territory but “when trouble comes, you may not survive”. He said Africa must invest in naval fleets, air‑defence systems and space technology to avoid repeating Latin America’s vulnerability.
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Building capacity across land, sea, air and space
Museveni elaborated on the “gaps” exposed by the Venezuelan raid. He said powerful countries can see adversaries from space, launch attacks from the ocean and air, and are now moving on land. Africa’s response, he argued, should be a multi‑dimensional defence strategy that includes developing a navy and investing in satellites and aerospace technology.
He urged East African leaders to build a common defence structure and highlighted the practical importance of a shared language such as Kiswahili to foster regional cohesion. Museveni also pointed out that small countries elsewhere, such as Denmark, can rely on larger allies like the U.S. for protection; Africa lacks such a “centre of gravity” and must therefore unite.
Context: the raid and global reaction
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Jan. 3 that American forces had captured Maduro and would administer Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” could occur. Reuters reported that Maduro was flown to New York to face drug‑trafficking charges and that Trump planned to allow U.S. oil firms to rebuild Venezuela’s energy sector.
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The operation prompted alarm across Latin America and condemnation from countries such as South Africa, which called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting. In this climate, Museveni’s warning resonated with African commentators who see parallels between Latin America’s predicament and Africa’s own vulnerabilities.
Africa’s choice: unity or vulnerability
Museveni’s remarks underscore a growing debate about continental defence and sovereignty. By linking the U.S. raid on Venezuela to Africa’s strategic posture, he framed the incident as a cautionary tale rather than a distant geopolitical event. He argued that Africa cannot remain a collection of small states reliant on ad hoc alliances; instead, it must invest jointly in land, sea, air and space security.
While some regional leaders have voiced support for stronger cooperation, achieving the level of integration Museveni envisions would require overcoming long‑standing political and economic rivalries. Still, his call to action sparked by Maduro’s dramatic capture is a reminder that in an era of multi‑domain warfare, unity may be Africa’s best defence.
Source: Monitor
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