In a dramatic turn of events, Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has sacked Javier Marcano Tábata, the commander of the presidential honour guard, just days after the US-led operation that seized President Nicolás Maduro. This move is seen as a sign of the power struggle unfolding in the country as Rodríguez consolidates her grip on power.
Marcano Tábata was not only in charge of the elite military unit tasked with protecting the head of state, but he also led Venezuela’s military counterintelligence unit, the DGCIM. This unit has been accused of committing numerous human rights abuses, including torture and sexual violence, against Maduro’s critics.
The decision to remove Marcano Tábata does not appear to be directly related to the DGCIM’s repressive activities, as the person appointed to replace him, Gustavo González López, also headed an intelligence service with similar allegations against it. Instead, the sacking is more likely a response to the failure of the presidential honour guard to prevent Maduro’s capture by US forces.
The US raid, which resulted in Maduro’s arrest and transfer to New York to stand trial on narco-terrorism charges, was a significant blow to the Venezuelan government. According to reports, 32 Cuban nationals and 23 Venezuelan military personnel, including five generals, were killed in the operation.
This humiliating defeat has left many government supporters feeling “humiliated” by the US forces’ ability to overpower Venezuela’s defences and seize Maduro, who was later paraded before the cameras in prison garb with his hands tied.
Rodríguez’s decision to replace Marcano Tábata could be an attempt to surround herself with people she trusts, as the threat of another US strike looms. President Donald Trump has warned that Rodríguez will “pay a very big price” if she does not comply with US demands, which include handing over up to 50 million barrels of oil to the US.
The power struggle in Venezuela is far from over, and the future remains uncertain for the country’s citizens, who now face the prospect of life without Maduro, their long-time leader. As the interim government navigates this turbulent period, the world will be watching closely to see how Rodríguez and her team respond to the challenges ahead.