Uganda said Sunday it would maintain a ban on social media platforms, while lifting a nationwide internet block hours after longtime ruler Yoweri Museveni was declared the winner of national elections.

The internet was blocked two days before the polls opened on Thursday. While the government said that it was necessary to curb “misinformation”, the United Nations labelled the decision “deeply worrying”.

READ ALSO: 81-Year-Old Museveni Wins Seventh Term As Uganda President

Although much of the country remained calm after the vote, there were reports of small-scale protests late Saturday after the results, with AFP journalists hearing tear gas in parts of the capital, Kampala.

As of Sunday morning, the security presence in Kampala appeared to have significantly decreased, with people out on the streets and shops open.

“Social media platforms… remain temporarily restricted to continue safeguarding against misuse that could threaten public order,” said George Nyombi Thembo, executive director of Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

He confirmed the return of most of the internet, while justifying the days-long suspension as “necessary and proportionate”.

The cut was to “prevent the rapid spread of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation, to curb potential electoral fraud and protect against incitement to violence during a highly sensitive national period”, he said.

Thembo declined to say when full access would be restored, telling reporters: “I don’t want to put an estimate.”

“We are a reasonable agency. We are a reasonable government. We don’t expect this to exceed a reasonable time that will mitigate the risk that we are seeing,” he said.

It comes after an election characterised by low turnout and major security deployments, as the government sought to prevent protests similar to those seen in neighbouring Tanzania during polls in October last year.

Analysts have long viewed the Ugandan election as a formality, with Museveni exerting total control over the state and security apparatus.

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Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of emergency on Sunday for two southern regions where raging wildfires have forced about 20,000 people to evacuate their homes.

Firefighters were battling 19 blazes across the country, 12 of which were in the regions of Nuble and Biobio, south of the capital Santiago.

“In the face of the ongoing serious fires, I have decided to declare a state of natural disaster for the Nuble and Biobio regions,” the left-wing president said in a post on X.

“All resources are available.”

he government has not said whether the fires killed anyone or how many homes had been impacted.

Alicia Cebrian, the director of the National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response, told local media that about 20,000 people had been evacuated.

She said most of the evacuations were in the Bibio cities of Penco and Lirquen, which have a combined population of around 60,000 people.

Images broadcast by local television showed the flames in both cities, with charred cars in the streets.

Wildfires have severely impacted south-central Chile in recent years.

In February 2024, several fires broke out simultaneously near the city of Vina del Mar, northwest of Santiago, resulting in 138 deaths, according to the public prosecutor’s office.

About 16,000 people were affected by those fires, authorities said.

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Super Eagles forward Akor Adams has praised the spirit and unity within the Nigerian team after their impressive run at the AFCON tournament in Morocco, which ended with a bronze medal finish.

Nigeria went through the competition recording five wins and eventually losing in the semi-finals to the hosts on penalties, a performance Adams believes underlines the quality of the squad.

“We’re the best. We’re the best team. We came for the gold, and we did not take it, but we are proud of what we have been able to achieve. We are a very strong group.”

READ ALSO: ‘You Inspired Millions,’ FG Hails Super Eagles On AFCON Bronze

”Everybody is going home with a better friendship with the next person, as a better person,” Adams said in a post-match interview on Saturday after beating Egypt 4-2 on penalties.

The striker reserved special praise for head coach Eric Chelle, crediting him with building a united and disciplined group within a short period.

“We are all grateful to Eric Chelle for what he has done for us as a group in the last three weeks. We are better people because of him,”

”He has given me the opportunity to represent my beloved Nigeria.”

The tournament also came with personal challenges for the forward, as his mother was unwell during the competition.

Adams described the period as emotionally demanding but expressed gratitude for the support his family received.

“Like every other tournament, things will happen in between, and family issues are not separate from that,

“I’m grateful it was not anything too big or out of control. I’m also grateful to the CAF medical team because they took care of her. She’s much better now, and I’m glad we got to experience this together.”

Despite the pride in the team’s achievement, Adams admitted the bronze medal still came with mixed emotions.

“I’m not very happy, but the most important thing is we came out with a win,” he said, adding that celebrations would be modest.

“Some people came and went home with nothing. We’ll just go back to the hotel first, try to eat, and then we’ll see what happens.”

For the Sevilla forward, the experience remains overwhelmingly positive, marking his first major international tournament with the Super Eagles.

“Everything for me is positive. It’s my first. There’s nothing to compare it to, so it’s positive,” he said.

He also addressed incidents involving fan behaviour during the tournament, stressing the need for respect and sportsmanship across African football.

“I think you do not kick somebody when he’s down,” Adams stated. “He was passionate for his country, but when Congo lost, all that happened was not acceptable. It’s not acceptable in Africa.”

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The Africa Cup of Nations reaches its climax on Sunday with a final showdown between the continent’s two leading footballing powerhouses as hosts Morocco look to win the title for the first time in 50 years when they take on Sadio Mane’s Senegal.

The match kicks off at 1900 GMT at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, where almost all of the crowd of 69,000 will be backing a Morocco side captained by African player of the year Achraf Hakimi.

READ ALSO: Nwabali’s Heroics Help Nigeria Beat Egypt To Win AFCON Bronze

The first AFCON ever to start in one year and end in another could be the second in a row to be won by the host nation, with the Atlas Lions aiming to follow in the footsteps of the Ivory Coast, crowned champions in front of their own fans in Abidjan in 2024.

Walid Regragui’s Morocco have established itself in recent years as Africa’s pre-eminent national team, becoming the first from the continent to reach a World Cup semi-final in 2022 and climbing to 11th place in the world rankings, just above Italy.

However, they have long been AFCON underachievers, with their only title to date coming in 1976. This will be their first final since 2004, when they lost to Tunisia with Regragui part of the team.

Senegal, meanwhile, are appearing in their third final in four editions and are targeting a second title to follow their 2022 triumph, when Mane scored the decisive penalty in a shoot-out win over Egypt in Yaounde.

“We dreamt of being here and now we have done it,” Regragui told reporters in the Moroccan capital on Saturday.

He has been under suffocating pressure to deliver the title for the football-mad nation, and would perhaps not have kept his job through to the approaching World Cup in North America had he not at least taken the team this far.

“I hope this is just the beginning and not our last AFCON final,” he added.

“Big football nations want to be up there on a regular basis. Tomorrow (Sunday) we want to try to make history.”

He added: “Senegal will need to be really strong to beat us at home, although they are capable.”

Morocco’s success over the last four weeks has been based around the attacking inspiration of Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz, the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, as well as a defence which has conceded only once — and that a penalty in a group-stage draw with Mali.

– Security concerns –

Being at home brings extra pressure, but can also be a huge advantage, and Senegal have complained about the conditions in which they were welcomed to Rabat ahead of the game.

The Lions of Teranga were based in the northern port city of Tangiers for the duration of the tournament before arriving in Rabat by train on Friday.

The Senegalese Football Federation complained in a statement about “serious concerns” including a “lack of adequate security” for the team’s arrival “which put the players and staff at risk”.

It also complained about the hotel offered to the delegation, the fact that they were given fewer than 3,000 tickets for their supporters for the final, and about being offered a training pitch at the Moroccan team’s base in nearby Sale.

“What happened was not normal,” said Senegal coach Pape Thiaw.

“Given the number there, anything could have happened. My players could have been in danger.

“That type of thing should not happen between two brother countries.”

Senegal’s star player Mane, a two-time winner of the African player of the year prize, said after netting the winner in the semi-final against Egypt that Sunday’s game would be his last ever AFCON appearance.

Remarkably, Thiaw insisted on the eve of the game that the former Liverpool forward may have no choice but to rethink that decision.

“I think he made his decision in the heat of the moment and the country does not agree, and I as coach of the national team do not agree,” said Thiaw.

“We would like to keep him for as long as possible,” added the coach, who is without centre-back and captain Kalidou Koulibaly due to suspension.

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US President Donald Trump on Saturday escalated his quest to acquire Greenland, threatening multiple European nations with tariffs of up to 25 per cent until he achieves his goal of controlling the Danish territory.

Trump’s threats came as thousands of people protested in the capital of Greenland against his wish to acquire the mineral-rich island at the gateway to the Arctic.

Thousands more protested in Copenhagen and other Danish cities.

READ ALSO: Trump Threatens Tariffs On Countries That Don’t Back Greenland Takeover Plan

The US president aimed his ire at Denmark, a fellow NATO member, as well as several other European countries that have deployed troops in recent days to the vast autonomous territory with a population of 57,000.

If realised, Trump’s threats against Washington’s NATO partners would create unprecedented tension within the alliance.

From February 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland would be subject to a 10-per cent tariff on all goods sent to the United States, Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

“On June 1st, 2026, the Tariff will be increased to 25%. This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” he wrote.

“These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable,” Trump said.

“Therefore, it is imperative that, in order to protect Global Peace and Security, strong measures be taken so that this potentially perilous situation end quickly, and without question.”

Trump added that he was “immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these Countries.”

Denmark called Trump’s announcement a “surprise,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it was “completely wrong,” and French President Emmanuel Macron added: “Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context.”

“We won’t let ourselves be intimidated,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told AFP, adding that the governments involved were working on a joint response.

In a statement, European Union leaders said the bloc “stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland.”

An extraordinary meeting of EU ambassadors has been called in Brussels for Sunday afternoon.

Greenlandic minister Naaja Nathanielsen on Saturday praised the reaction of European countries, saying she was “thankful and hopeful for diplomacy and allieship (sic) to prevail.”

– ‘Make America Go Away’ –

In Nuuk, thousands of people, including the territory’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, waved Greenlandic flags, chanted slogans and sang traditional Inuit songs under light rain.

Many wore caps with the words “Make America Go Away” — a riff on Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.

“We don’t want Trump invading Greenland, that is the message,” 44-year-old nurse Paarniq Larsen Strum said at the Nuuk rally, calling the situation “nerve-wracking.”

“We demand respect for our country’s right to self-determination and for us as a people,” added protest organiser Avijaja Rosing-Olsen.

In Copenhagen, charity worker Kirsten Hjoernholm, 52, said it was important to show unity with Greenlanders.

“You cannot be bullied by an ally. It’s about international law,” she said.

Around her, demonstrators waved the flags of Denmark and Greenland while chanting “Kalaallit Nunaat!” — the vast Arctic island’s name in Greenlandic.

Some also held placards saying “USA already has too much ICE,” referring to Trump’s deployment of federal immigration officers in US cities, while others chanted “Greenland is not for sale.”

– US ‘security’ claims –

Trump has repeatedly claimed that the United States needs Greenland for US “national security,” while alleging without evidence that China and Russia are trying to control it.

Those two countries have increased their security presence in the Arctic, but have not made any claims over its sovereignty.

France said the European military exercise in Greenland was designed to show the world that it will defend the territory.

Denmark said the US had been invited to join the drill.

It was not immediately clear what authority the US president would invoke to impose the threatened tariffs of up to 25 percent.

Since returning to the presidency, Trump has unleashed sweeping tariffs on goods from virtually all trading partners, to address what Washington says are unfair trade practices and as a tool to press governments.

Washington and the European Union struck a deal last summer to lower US tariffs on key European goods, with the deal currently being implemented.

Also on Saturday, US lawmakers were wrapping up a visit to Copenhagen for talks with Greenlandic and Danish politicians.

The group, led by Democratic Senator Chris Coons, told reporters that Trump’s stance was not backed by the majority of Americans.

It is also roundly rejected by Greenlanders, 85 percent of whom — according to the latest poll published in January 2025 — oppose the territory joining the United States. Only six percent were in favour.

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Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine was forcibly taken away in an army helicopter from his home on Friday, his party said, a day after elections marred by reports of violence.

President Yoweri Museveni is seeking to prolong his four-decade rule in an election that saw widespread repression and an internet blackout.

His main opponent, singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine, earlier said he had been under house arrest after police surrounded his compound.

Late Friday, his party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), said in a post on X that an army helicopter had landed in the compound and “forcibly taken him away to an unknown destination”.

It said Wine’s private security guards were “violently assaulted” in the process.

Museveni was comfortably leading as votes were counted on Friday, with the Electoral Commission saying he was on 73.7 percent to Wine’s 22.7 with close to 81 percent of votes counted.

Final results were due around 1300 GMT on Saturday.

Authorities have imposed an internet blackout during the election.

Wine, 43, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has emerged as the main challenger to Museveni in recent years. The former singer styles himself the “ghetto president” after the slum areas of Kampala where he grew up.

There were reports of violence against the opposition in other parts of the country.

Muwanga Kivumbi, member of parliament for Wine’s party in the Butambala area of central Uganda, told AFP’s Nairobi office by phone that security forces had killed 10 of his campaign agents after storming his home.

His wife, Zahara Nampewo, a law professor, said the 10 were hiding in their garage when security forces fired through the door.

“After killing them, the military continued firing,” Kivumbi said. “And they ensured that they removed all the evidence of the dead. You only have a pool of blood that is left here.”

Local police spokeswoman Lydia Tumushabe gave a different account, saying “a group of NUP goons” had planned to overrun and burn down a local tally centre and police station.

“An unspecified number were put out of action,” she told AFP, adding that 25 others had been arrested and charged with malicious damage of property.

– Total control –

Analysts have long viewed the election as a formality.

Museveni, a former guerrilla fighter who seized power in 1986, has total control over the state and security apparatus and has ruthlessly crushed any challenger during his rule.

Election day was marred by significant technical problems after biometric machines — used to confirm voters’ identities — malfunctioned and ballot papers were undelivered for several hours in many areas.

There was a heavy security presence across the country.

The United Nations rights office said last week that the elections were taking place in an environment marked by “widespread repression and intimidation” against the opposition.

On Thursday, Wine accused the government of “massive ballot stuffing” and attacking several of his party officials under cover of the internet blackout, which was imposed on Tuesday.

The post Ugandan Opposition Leader Bobi Wine Seized By Army Helicopter After Election appeared first on Channels Television.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, has said the opposition party’s objective is to remove President Tinubu from power as a necessary step towards rescuing Nigeria from what he described as an unprecedented governance crisis.

“It’s solely to get Tinubu out of power. That is the agenda and not about the interests of Nigeria.

”There is no scenario where he remains in power, and we are able to save this country,” Abdullahi said on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The ADC spokesman, claimed that Nigeria has been hijacked, adding that “When people say you can smash it, grab it, and run with it, that is the language of banditry”.

He indicated that such attitudes now reflect the mindset of President Tinubu’s administration.

READ ALSO: Improved Allocations To Govs Not Reflecting In Nigerians’ Lives, Says ADC

Abdullahi, a former minister, also raised concerns over allegations of legislative manipulation especially on the tax laws, describing recent events as unprecedented in Nigeria’s democratic history.

The ADC spokesman accused the government of forging a law that had already been duly passed by the National Assembly, questioning the implications of such an act.

“A government that can forge a duly passed law; what do you call that?” he asked.

Speaking on the Federal Government’s reported payment of $9 million to foreign lobbyists in the United States, allegedly to improve Nigeria’s image before American political leaders, including President Donald Trump, Abdullahi said he had reviewed documents, and there was no transparency model or legality of the process.

”Is it a bad thing to lobby? No, it’s not a bad thing. But what they are doing, number one, I don’t even want to go into all the processes.

”How was this contract awarded? How was the money paid? Who paid the money? What budget line was it taken from? How was the money transferred out of Nigeria? he said.

He argued that the expenditure revealed misplaced priorities. “If you invest nine million dollars in internal security, you will see results. You won’t have to convince the president of another country that your country is safe,” he added

”Instead, he accused the government of caring more about appearances before foreign audiences than about the daily insecurity faced by Nigerians.”

“They don’t care whether Nigerians are still dying. They don’t care that people are still being killed. They just want to look good before Americans,” Abdullahi said.

The ADC spokesperson also expressed alarm over a recently signed medical memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Nigeria and the United States. According to him, the agreement, reportedly signed around December 19, grants the US significant control over how funds are spent, including determining the regions that would benefit, despite Nigeria contributing more financially.

“No Nigerians have seen the details of this MOU,” he said, describing the terms as “shocking” while raising questions about sovereignty and accountability.

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US President Donald Trump said Friday he may impose trade tariffs on countries that don’t support his plans to take over Greenland, part of the territory of NATO ally Denmark.

“I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security,” Trump said at a health roundtable at the White House.

“I may do that,” added Trump.

READ ALSO: Trump Threatens To Invoke Insurrection Act Over Minnesota Protests

Trump compared the possible Greenland tariffs to those that he threatened on France and Germany last year over the price of pharmaceutical products.

The threat is the latest pressure tactic by Republican Trump as he steps up his bid to acquire the autonomous Arctic island, a goal that he has threatened to achieve by military means if necessary.

Trump claims the United States needs mineral-rich Greenland and has accused Greenland of not doing enough to ensure its security against rivals Russia and China.

European nations have in recent days shown their support for Denmark and Greenland over Trump’s escalating threats, including by sending troops to the strategic territory.

A bipartisan US Congress delegation also began a visit to Copenhagen on Friday to voice their backing for Denmark and Greenland.

The foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland visited the White House on Wednesday for talks to defuse the issue but said afterwards that they remained in “fundamental disagreement” with Trump.

But the United States, Denmark and Greenland had agreed to set up a working group to continue talks every two to three weeks on the issue, the White House said on Thursday.

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Nigeria secured a well-deserved 2-0 victory over Algeria in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarterfinal, with second-half goals from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams, setting up a semi-final clash against hosts Morocco.

The Super Eagles delivered an impressive performance, especially considering they had missed out on World Cup qualification just two months prior.

READ ALSO: [AFCON] Tinubu Hails Super Eagles Over Quarter-Final Win

From the beginning of the match at the Grand Stade de Marrakesh, they overwhelmed their opponents with determination, speed, and strength in challenges. Remarkably, they denied their rivals any scoring opportunities throughout the game.

Eric Chelle’s men will now look forward to what many will call their toughest test yet, against the hosts, Morocco, on Wednesday

Takeaways from Nigeria vs Algeria Match

But before that game, here are six takeaways from the Nigeria vs Algeria match

Nigeria Dominated Overall Play

Tactical Awareness, Collectiveness Was Key

Yet again, the Super Eagles delivered a disciplined, well-coordinated performance that reflected clear planning and strong in-game understanding across all departments.

At the back, Nigeria’s defenders maintained a compact shape, ensuring minimal space between the lines. The centre-back pairing of Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi stayed disciplined rather than stepping out recklessly, while the fullbacks timed their forward runs intelligently.

This balance allowed Nigeria to defend solidly without sacrificing attacking width. Algeria were frequently forced wide or backward, unable to play through Nigeria’s defensive block.

In midfield, Nigeria’s work rate and positional awareness stood out. The midfielders provided constant cover for the defence while also acting as the link between the defence and the attack.

When Nigeria were out of possession, they pressed in coordinated units rather than individually, cutting off passing lanes and slowing Algeria’s build-up. In possession, they moved the ball quickly and efficiently, allowing Nigeria to transition smoothly from defence into attack.

The use of the flanks was a key tactical feature. Nigeria’s fullbacks pushed high at the right moments, stretching Algeria’s defensive line and creating overloads out wide. This width forced Algeria’s defenders to shift laterally, opening spaces centrally for the forwards.

Crosses and cut-backs from wide areas repeatedly put Algeria under pressure, even when clear chances did not immediately materialise.

Nigeria’s Attack Looked More Balanced

For years, Nigeria’s attacking identity has often revolved around  Osimhen as the primary source of goals and intensity. While his presence remains central, the emergence of Akor Adams as a genuine scoring option altered the dynamics.

Algeria could no longer afford to focus all their defensive attention on shutting down Osimhen, as doing so created spaces elsewhere, spaces Akor was quick to exploit.

Akor’s willingness to make intelligent off-ball runs complemented Osimhen’s direct, physical style. While the 27-year-old occupied centre-backs with his pressing, aerial duels, and hold-up play, the Sevilla forward found gaps between defenders and timed his movements into the box effectively.

This dual threat made Nigeria’s attack less predictable and more difficult to contain.

The shared scoring responsibility also had a psychological impact. Osimhen was able to play with greater freedom, dropping deeper to link play or drifting wide without the constant burden of being the sole match-winner.

In turn, this improved Nigeria’s fluidity in the final third, as attacks were built through combinations rather than rushed, individual actions.

Iwobi Still Instrumental In Decisive Moments

One person who has been key to Nigeria’s outing at the AFCON is Alex Iwobi. It would be an understatement to say he is enjoying the tournament. The Fulham man has been a ”revelation” to say the least.

In attacking phases, Iwobi provided creative connectivity rather than flashiness. He helped shift play wide, supported overlapping runs, and timed his forward movements to keep Algeria’s midfield occupied.

Even when not directly involved in goals, his movement and passing helped open spaces for forwards like Osimhen and Akor to exploit, particularly as Nigeria increased their dominance in the second half.

Defensively, Iwobi’s work rate stood out. He tracked runners, pressed intelligently rather than recklessly, and contributed to Nigeria’s compact shape when protecting the lead.

Algeria Struggled To Generate Offensive Chances

Meanwhile, Algeria’s difficulty in generating offensive chances was one of the defining features of the match and a direct reflection of Nigeria’s tactical control.

Throughout the game, the Desert Foxes found it hard to progress the ball cleanly into dangerous areas. Nigeria’s midfield of Wilfred Ndidi, Iwobi, and Frank Onyeka pressed aggressively and cut off passing lanes, forcing Algeria to circulate possession sideways or backwards rather than play through the centre.

Whenever Algeria attempted to build from deep, they were quickly met by coordinated pressure that disrupted their timing and limited forward momentum.

In the final third, the North Africans lacked penetration and clarity. Their attacking players were often isolated, with little support arriving from midfield, which made it easy for Nigeria’s defenders to contain one-on-one situations.

The Final Whistle Did Little To End Tensions

Players from both sides converged near the centre of the pitch, with heated exchanges, pushing, and confrontations involving not only players but also members of the technical benches.

Match officials were forced to intervene quickly to prevent the situation from escalating further.

The tension appeared to stem from a mix of frustration and high stakes. For Algeria, the defeat marked an abrupt end to a promising AFCON campaign, and some of their players visibly reacted to decisions made late in the game, including fouls and stoppages that disrupted their attempts to mount a comeback.

Nigeria’s players, meanwhile, were seen defending teammates and responding to perceived provocation as celebrations began.

Security personnel and coaching staff played a key role in restoring order, shepherding players away from flashpoints and toward the dressing rooms.

While the situation eventually de-escalated, the scenes underlined just how emotionally charged knockout football at AFCON can be, especially between two traditional continental heavyweights.

Super Eagles Face Africa’s Best

Nigeria’s victory pit them against the hosts, and they will want to go a step further in the competition when facing Africa’s best side.

The post AFCON: Six Things We Learnt From Nigeria’s Victory Over Algeria appeared first on Channels Television.

Several hundred supporters of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro staged protests in the capital Saturday, a week after his capture by US forces, as the interim government moved to revive ties with Washington and slowly released some prisoners.

Waving flags and placards with the face of the moustachioed ex-leader and his wife Cilia, around 1,000 protesters rallied in the west of Caracas and a few hundred in the eastern Petare district — far smaller than demonstrations Maduro’s camp has mustered in the past.

“I’ll march as often as I have to until Nicolas and Cilia come back,” demonstrator Soledad Rodriguez, 69, said of the presidential couple who were taken by US forces to New York to face trial on drug-trafficking charges.

“I trust blindly that they will come back — they have been kidnapped.”

Notably absent from the rallies were top figures from the government, which has said it is reviving diplomatic contact with Washington and discussing possible cooperation on US President Donald Trump’s oil demands.

Interim president Delcy Rodriguez instead attended an agricultural fair, where she vowed in televised comments she would “not rest for a minute until we have our president back.”

The other two hardline powers in the government, Interior Minister and street enforcer Diosdado Cabello, and Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, were also not seen at the demos.

– Diplomatic manoeuvres –

Maduro claimed he was “doing well” in jail, his son Nicolas Maduro Guerra said in a video released Saturday by his party.

Despite the shock of his capture during deadly nighttime raids on January 3, signs emerged Friday of cooperation with Washington after Trump’s claim to be “in charge” of the South American country.

Rodriguez said Venezuela would deal with the United States through “the diplomatic route,” and Washington said US envoys visited Caracas on Friday to discuss reopening their embassy.

The Venezuelan government did not respond when asked by AFP whether the US officials had met with Rodriguez.

She has pledged to cooperate with Trump over his demands for access to Venezuela’s huge oil reserves.

But she also moved to placate the powerful pro-Maduro base by insisting Venezuela is not “subordinate” to Washington.

The US embassy in Colombia warned Saturday that “the security situation in Venezuela remains fluid” and advised Americans to leave the country “immediately” as commercial flights become available.

– Anxiety over prisoners –

Anxious relatives meanwhile camped outside jails, awaiting the promised release of political prisoners.

Rodriguez’s camp on Thursday began freeing prisoners jailed under Maduro, saying a “large” number would be released in a gesture of appeasement that Washington took credit for.

“Venezuela has started the process, in a BIG WAY, of releasing their political prisoners. Thank you! I hope those prisoners will remember how lucky they got that the USA came along and did what had to be done,” Trump posted Saturday night on his Truth Social platform.

However, prisoners’ rights groups and the opposition said only 21 people had been released by Saturday evening, including several prominent opposition figures. Rights groups estimate there are 800 to 1,200 political prisoners in Venezuela.

Families held candlelight vigils outside El Rodeo prison east of Caracas, and El Helicoide, a notorious prison run by the intelligence services, displaying signs with the names of their imprisoned relatives.

“I am tired and angry,” Nebraska Rivas, 57, told AFP, as she waited for her son to be released from El Rodeo.

“But I have faith that they will hand him over to us soon,” she said, after sleeping on the pavement outside the prison for two nights.

– Oil talks –

Following Maduro’s capture, Trump vowed to secure US access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.

The White House said Trump has signed an emergency order protecting US-held revenues derived from sales of Venezuelan oil, preventing them from being seized by courts or creditors.

Chevron is currently the only US firm licensed to operate in Venezuela, through a sanctions exemption.

At a White House meeting on Friday, he pressed top oil executives to invest in Venezuela’s reserves, but was met with a cautious reception.

Experts say Venezuela’s oil infrastructure is creaky after years of mismanagement and sanctions.

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