U.S Raises $25M Bounty on Venezuela’s Maduro Amid Controversial Third Term
The U.S. has raised its reward to $25 million (Sh3.2 billion) for tips leading to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, coinciding with his swearing-in for a third six-year term.
His inauguration, held amid protests from opposition leaders and criticism from the global community, took place six months after controversial elections that many, including the opposition, claim he lost.
Additional rewards include $15 million (Sh2.2 billion) for Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino and an unspecified amount for Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.
Maduro, 62, vowed to usher in “peace, prosperity, and equality” during his oath-taking ceremony on Friday. However, the election results, declared by Venezuela’s government-aligned electoral body, were widely rejected by countries such as the U.S., Brazil, and Colombia, which instead recognized opposition leader Edmundo González as the legitimate winner.
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González fled to Spain in September but recently began a diplomatic tour across the Americas to gather international support.
Meanwhile, the Maduro administration has issued an arrest warrant for him, offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado, previously barred from running for president, briefly resurfaced at a rally on Thursday before being detained and released.
Her team reported she was “violently intercepted” in eastern Caracas, while Venezuela’s Information Minister Freddy Nanez dismissed the claims as “media distractions.”
Maduro’s government remains under scrutiny as he pledges a new era for Venezuela while grappling with widespread rejection of his presidency both at home and abroad.
U.S Raises $25M Bounty on Venezuela’s Maduro Amid Controversial Third Term