Venezuelans regain access to X after yearlong block

January 14, 2026 / 10:11 AM

Women lit candles during a vigil to demand freedom for political prisoners outside El Rodeo I prison in Guatire

Sharjah24 - AFP: The social network X became accessible again in Venezuela on Tuesday after being blocked for over a year under the regime of deposed president Nicolás Maduro, restoring a major platform for online communication.

Interim leadership signals unity

Interim president Delcy Rodríguez, who previously served as vice president under Maduro, updated her bio on X with a message calling for unity, economic stability and social justice.

Spotty access and past suspension

Access to the platform remains uneven as service resumes. X, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, had been blocked following heated exchanges between Musk and Maduro after his contested 2024 election win and subsequent suspension of the network last August.

Political context

Rodríguez assumed power after Maduro was captured by US forces earlier this month. Maduro and his wife face US charges related to alleged drug trafficking.

updates on official accounts

Maduro’s own X account was updated with a photo of him and his wife with the message “We want you back.”