Guyana has appealed to the ICJ after Venezuela announced upcoming elections in the disputed Essequibo region. Venezuela claims the area following a December 2023 referendum, while Guyana insists its territorial rights were established in 1899. Guyana seeks provisional measures to halt Venezuela’s actions, arguing they breach an ICJ order. Recent oil discoveries have intensified this long-standing territorial dispute.
Guyana has appealed to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) following Venezuela’s announcement to conduct elections in the disputed Essequibo region, which has been administered by Guyana for over a century. The elections are scheduled for May 25, and Venezuela has included Essequibo among the areas for electing new governors.
This escalation comes after a non-binding referendum in December 2023 where 95% of Venezuelan voters reportedly supported the claim to Essequibo. Venezuela’s parliament previously passed legislation in March 2022 designating Essequibo as its 24th state, a move deemed invalid by Guyana and other nations.
In its filing, Guyana requested the ICJ impose provisional measures to prevent Venezuela from conducting any actions concerning the Essequibo region, which constitutes two-thirds of its territory and is home to around 125,000 citizens. Guyana argues that the borders of Essequibo were established by an arbitration ruling in 1899.
Conversely, Venezuela claims that the Essequibo River designates a natural boundary dating back to 1777. Tensions have intensified notably since 2015, when ExxonMobil discovered substantial oil reserves in the region, further aggravated by Guyana’s auctioning of oil blocks in 2023, thus positioning it with the highest crude reserves per capita globally.
In December 2023, the ICJ had already ordered Venezuela to desist from any actions regarding Essequibo, which Guyana contends the upcoming elections contravene. Guyana’s foreign ministry expressed urgency for a court hearing in response to these developments.
The dispute over the Essequibo region between Guyana and Venezuela, marked by escalating tensions regarding territorial claims and significant oil discoveries, necessitates international judicial intervention. Guyana’s appeal to the ICJ seeks to uphold the region’s status and prevent Venezuelan electoral actions that contradict existing court rulings. The situation underscores the complexities of territorial disputes and resource management in geopolitically sensitive areas.
Original Source: www.gonzagabulletin.com
