Forcible arrests, kidnappings, and captures of heads of state or governments

The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, reported amid an escalation of international tension, has once again placed at the center of the global debate the historical episodes in which heads of state or government have been arrested, kidnapped or forcibly detained, generally in scenarios of political crisis, coups d’état or foreign interventions.

Latin America: Coups d’état and institutional breakdowns

The Latin American region has been a recurring scene of the forced detention of leaders:

• Manuel Zelaya – Honduras (2009):
  Constitutional president overthrown by the military, taken from his residence and expelled from the country in his pajamas during a coup d’état.
• Pedro Castillo – Peru (2022):
  Incumbent president arrested after announcing the closure of Congress. His supporters called the event a political kidnapping, while the authorities considered it a breach of constitutional order.
• Juan Bosch – Dominican Republic (1963):
  Elected president overthrown by the military, briefly detained and sent into exile after a coup d’état that interrupted the democratic order.

Africa: Military Captures and Political Violence

In Africa, the retention of leaders has marked abrupt changes of power:

• Patrice Lumumba – Congo (1960):
  Prime Minister kidnapped, imprisoned, and later assassinated, in an episode involving local forces and foreign powers.
• Alpha Condé – Guinea (2021):
  President captured by coup-plotting military personnel, recorded on video, and publicly removed from office.
• Mohamed Bazoum – Niger (2023):
  Incumbent President held inside the presidential palace following a military coup.

Middle East: Overthrows and Foreign Interventions

• Saddam Hussein – Iraq (2003):
  President captured by US forces after the invasion of Iraq, which sealed the collapse of his regime.
• Hosni Mubarak – Egypt (2011):
  President arrested after being overthrown during the Arab Spring and held in custody by the Egyptian state.

Europe: arrests in war contexts

• Benito Mussolini – Italy (1943):
  Head of Government arrested by order of the king, later rescued by Nazi forces and later executed after the definitive fall of the fascist regime.

Asia: Contemporary Military Coups

• Aung San Suu Kyi – Myanmar (2021):
  De facto leader and head of government detained by the military during a coup that ended a democratic transition process.

The Parallel with Venezuela

These historical backgrounds show that the detention or capture of a head of state usually marks profound breaks in power, accompanied by far-reaching social, political, and geopolitical consequences. In the Venezuelan case, Nicolás Maduro has faced for years international accusations, economic sanctions, and strong diplomatic pressure, including accusations from the United States for alleged drug trafficking and human rights violations.