#us-pressure

#us-pressure

Venezuela has said it has carried out its largest release of political prisoners this year, claiming to have freed 99 people detained for taking part in protests after the 2024 election, widely believed to have been stolen by the dictator Nicolas Maduro, as it comes under increasing military pressure from the US. Civil society organisations have treated the news with caution and stressed that the releases were insufficient, noting that at least 900 political prisoners remain in the country.

Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar stated that Nigeria will not yield to US pressure to accept deported Venezuelans, emphasizing that the country has enough issues to manage. Tuggar asserted, "The issue of accepting Venezuelan deportees, honestly, I don't think is something that Nigeria is in a position to work with," reflecting the complexities faced by Nigeria amid external demands.