Guyana has submitted an urgent request to the ICJ to stop Venezuela’s election plans in the disputed Essequibo region. The elections are seen as a violation of a previous ICJ ruling and a threat to Guyana’s sovereignty. Guyana seeks provisional measures to prevent Venezuela from altering the status of the territory before the elections take place.
Guyana has initiated a pivotal move in its territorial dispute with Venezuela by filing an urgent request to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This request aims to invoke provisional measures related to the 1899 Arbitral Award. This decision follows Venezuela’s announcement to conduct elections in the Essequibo region, an area that Guyana claims as its own, which Venezuela has administered for over a century.
Essequibo is affirmed by Guyana as a vital part of its sovereign territory, a stance supported by an ICJ ruling in December 2023. Guyana perceives Venezuela’s election plans, scheduled for May 25, 2025, as a contravention of international law and a violation of the Court’s existing Orders.
Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs voiced that these electoral plans would create “preparatory acts” that threaten the rights of Essequibo’s residents and Guyana’s territorial integrity. Therefore, the government seeks ICJ’s intervention to order Venezuela to cease any actions that may assert claims over Essequibo or modify its status.
This is the second instance of Guyana pursuing provisional measures from the ICJ. In late 2023, the Court had previously ruled in Guyana’s favor, instructing Venezuela to refrain from actions that would alter the existing situation of the disputed territory. Guyana believes Venezuela’s elections would clearly breach this earlier order.
The Guyanese government is seriously concerned about potential delays in court intervention, fearing irreparable damage to its sovereignty and the rights of its citizens residing in the contentious area. In their official statement, they articulated their urgency, stating, “We are seeking to preserve our rights… to prevent Venezuela from taking steps that would undermine Guyana’s control over the Essequibo region.”
The situation between Guyana and Venezuela over the Essequibo region has escalated, with Guyana urging the ICJ for immediate intervention to prevent electoral activities by Venezuela on disputed territory. This request stems from concerns of sovereignty and the potential for irreversible harm. Guyana’s actions reflect ongoing tensions and the importance of adhering to international law as they seek to protect their territorial claims.
Original Source: newsroom.gy
