State of Emergency in Venezuela Amid Political Turmoil
This past weekend, a state of emergency was declared across South America, with instructions given to pro-Maduro groups to target Venezuelans who supported the U.S. initiative to remove the authoritarian president.
According to a decree issued on Saturday, Venezuelan police have been directed to “immediately begin a nationwide search and capture of all persons involved in promoting or supporting armed attacks by the United States.” This document was seen by Reuters and fully published on Monday.
It’s still uncertain whether police are acting on these orders or if Maduro’s well-known militia groups have been mobilized. However, social media showed images on Monday of armed and masked civilians reportedly patrolling the streets and highways.
Collectively known as colectivos, these armed citizen militias have instilled fear to suppress dissent since Hugo Chávez took control in 1999. Their presence on scooters and motorcycles during unrest is now a familiar image across Venezuela.
Some military personnel have been observed on the streets since the surprising arrest of President Maduro early Saturday in Caracas, but their numbers appear to be lower than during previous conflicts.
After the assault, armed civilians were spotted safeguarding military bases that were attacked, and around 300 individuals gathered at a pro-Maduro rally later that day.
“It’s likely that the colectivos have been told to stay low,” remarked Alejandro Velasco, a Latin American history professor at New York University. He suggested that the administration aims to reassure Trump that they can maintain a semblance of order.
The exact number of people impacted by recent events is unknown, but it’s estimated to be in the thousands across the country. These militia members typically receive government salaries through short-term positions, ready to act when required by the government.
The colectivos last united during the summer of 2024, following Maduro’s declared victory in a presidential election, when paramilitary groups were deployed to suppress widespread protests.
The future involvement of colectivos in the ongoing conflict is uncertain. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed the presidency on Monday, has indicated a willingness to work with Trump while publicly condemning U.S. actions.
Venezuela’s key officials and colectivo leaders, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, seem to be aligned in their approach thus far.
However, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, the president’s son, echoed his father’s call for a state of emergency, urging retaliation against opponents in a passionate audio message released on Sunday.
“History will reveal who the traitor was. Time will tell,” Guerra stated, calling for Venezuelans to rise against U.S. efforts to dominate the country long-term. He also made an appearance in Venezuela’s parliament to demand his father’s return, asserting that the regime would persist until then.
