Wilmer Castro wasn’t surprised by the flurry of messages that lit up his phone because he was 26 years old.
However, as he began to scroll on Saturday morning, he realized that the messages were not birthday wishes but news that Nicolas Maduro had been ousted from power.
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The university student said to Ejido, “I think it is the best gift I will ever receive, one I will never forget.”
Castro recounting the events that led to Maduro’s death to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, told Al Jazeera that he was so excited by the news that he began daydreaming about his future self.
“I’ll let them know that a dictator fell on January 3, 2026, and that moment is going to be very beautiful.”
Following months of growing tensions between the two nations, including US strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels and US ships being deployed close to Venezuela’s coastal waters, the country’s long-standing authoritarian leader and his wife were abducted by the US.
However, a significant quiet had ruined Castro’s initial joy by Sunday morning. The city came to a gloomy halt due to uncertainty’s impact, which closed in on him and made him feel unlike he had previously felt.
It’s like being alone in a field. I can’t describe the mournful silence, he said.
Many Venezuelans felt that uncertainty early on Sunday.
Since 1999, Venezuela has had a socialist government, first under President Hugo Chavez and then under Maduro. This transition, which started with oil-funded social programs but turned into economic mismanagement, corruption, and repression, was followed by international sanctions, which have further strained the population.
The opposition alliance’s leadership sprang up amid anticipation of the presidential election of 2024. However, a crackdown on dissention took place when Maduro won despite the opposition’s claims that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won overwhelmingly. Many Venezuelans came to the conclusion that any actual transition might require external pressure or even intervention.
Deathly silence
Edward Ocariz, 54, was woken up on Saturday in southeast Caracas by a loud crash and vibrating windows in his home close to Fort Tiuna military barracks. He assumed there was an earthquake, but when he looked outside, he observed unfamiliar helicopters winging their wings in the air.
He claimed that “the noise kept coming.” Because I’ve never seen them here, I could tell immediately that they were not Venezuelan.
Then it stopped abruptly as it had begun.
According to Ocariz, “there was a deathly silence,” adding that the brief suspension of mobile phone services and power outages contributed to the silence. We were “wary to understand what was happening.”
Fear was present in the information that did manage to seep through, according to Ocariz. However, it was a fear that was “mixed with enormous joy.” It’s challenging to explain.
Ocariz reflected on the suffering he had endured under the president’s rule on Sunday as images of a blindfolded and handcuffed Maduro began to circulate.
The human rights activist claimed he was wrongfully accused of “terrorism” and spent nearly five months in the maximum-security facility in Carabobo state’s Tocuyito prison.
The country had a long history of detention for those who opposed him under Maduro. Nearly 2,500 protesters, human rights activists, journalists, and opposition figures were detained following the tumultuous 2024 election. Some people were later released, but others are still in prison.
“It made me feel happy. In full knowledge that Maduro won’t have to endure the miserable conditions he did in prison, or be denied food and legal counsel, Ocariz said, “a process of justice is finally beginning.”
Ocariz warns that more needs to be done in spite of the joy he and other Venezuelans are currently experiencing.
Because it is well known how the police and justice system use their authority to criminalize whoever they choose, the population still experiences a lot of fear [from the authorities] — psychological fear.
Important institutions have remained in the hands of Nicolas Maduro’s inner circle, including acting president Delcy Rodriguez, who has been appointed vice president.
However, seeing a senior Chavista figure still in power, especially as the Trump administration continues to work with her, unsettling for many Venezuelans, including Castro and Ocariz.
“It is undoubtedly frustrating for me. I am aware that Venezuela needs to maintain its administrative, functional, and operational management as a country, Ocariz said, adding that there must be some restraint and order in the US to combat the power vacuum.
concerns about the economy
Venezuela’s militarisation continues to be a concern, and there are persistent fears of more unrest. The authorities relied on “colectivos,” armed civilian groups that rights organizations accused of intimidation and violence, in times of dissent.
Jose Parejo &, Associates in Caracas, an energy and political risk analyst, expressed concern about the possibility of more riots and social unrest.
According to him, “any potential new government that will proceed with the elimination of the top ranks of the armed forces and security and police forces will result in the colectivos’ disarmament,” adding that addressing the persistent economic crisis should also be one of the top priorities.
According to him, “a new government that implements quick economic reforms leading to a recovery will outweigh the ideological legacy of the Bolivarian revolution,” referring to Chavismo, a concept that is characterized by anti-imperialism, patriotism, and socialism.
The US, specifically the sanctions it placed on the oil sector, has long been held responsible for Venezuela’s economic woes by those who are loyal to Maduro.
Chalhoub said he thought Trump’s pledge to boost the nation’s oil production might boost the economy, but he found the US president’s claim that the US will “run the country” illogical.
Not everyone is, however, happy with the attack by the Trump administration.
The US president is reportedly engaged in an imperialist schema with the intention of “robbing” Venezuela of its natural resources, according to Alex Rajoy, a mototaxi driver in Caracas.
Rajoy said he will stay at home over the upcoming days because he fears more attacks would occur despite his anger.
He said, “These missiles aren’t just going to Chavistas,” making reference to those who support Venezuela’s socialist ideology.
He continued, “They also threaten opposition people,” noting that anyone who backs foreign intervention is considered a betrayal. He claimed that it was “treason against the homeland.”
Now what?
Fear for his immediate needs, including concerns about whether stores would remain open in the Ejido and rising costs, has slowed Castro, the university student, as he pondered the excitement he felt on Saturday. He has long struggled to buy basic items under Maduro.
He claimed that “people in the street were going crazy yesterday.” Because we don’t know what the future holds, everyone is buying food with half of what they already have in their bank accounts and buying what they could.
The scenes made me think of the shortages of 2016 and the country’s crisis, which caused people to wait for hours and travel between stores with restrictions on what they could buy.
Castro claimed that Venezuelans are considering the country’s future and the uncertainty surrounding it a day after the attack.
