Guyana appeals to the ICJ following Venezuela’s announcement of elections in the disputed Essequibo region. Venezuela’s territory claim gained momentum after a December referendum. Guyana insists on its sovereignty, and the ICJ previously granted it provisional measures. The dispute is heightened by significant oil discoveries in the area, impacting international relations.
On Thursday, Guyana sought intervention from the United Nations’ International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Venezuela’s announcement of elections in the contested Essequibo region. This territory has been under Guyana’s administration for over a century, and Venezuela’s polls scheduled for May 25 will include this region, heightening tensions between the two nations.
The dispute gained momentum following a non-binding referendum in December 2023, wherein 95 percent of Venezuelan voters expressed support for the territorial claim over Essequibo. In March 2022, Venezuela’s parliament passed a bill designating Essequibo as its 24th state, a move that was deemed invalid by Guyana and other nations, yet it was enacted under President Maduro’s administration.
In response, Guyana formally requested the ICJ to impose provisional measures against Venezuela, emphasizing the need for the nation to abstain from any actions affecting its sovereign territory, specifically the Essequibo region. This area constitutes approximately two-thirds of Guyana’s land and is home to 125,000 of its 800,000 citizens.
Guyana, a small English-speaking country, asserts that the borders of Essequibo were established by an arbitration panel in 1899, while Venezuela contends that the Essequibo River provides a natural boundary recognized historically as far back as 1777. The dispute became more pressing in 2015 when ExxonMobil discovered extensive oil reserves in Essequibo, a situation that escalated further in 2023 as Guyana initiated auctions for oil exploration in the region, granting it the largest crude reserves per capita globally.
In December 2023, the ICJ agreed to Guyana’s prior request for provisional measures, instructing Venezuela to avoid any further actions concerning the region. Guyana’s foreign ministry indicated that the forthcoming elections violate this court order and called for an expedited hearing. Additionally, a diplomatic incident occurred when the United States criticized Venezuelan naval vessels for threatening an ExxonMobil unit in maritime regions claimed by Guyana.
Guyana has formally appealed to the ICJ in response to Venezuela’s planned elections in the disputed Essequibo region. The ongoing territorial dispute is underscored by recent discoveries of oil reserves, intensifying both diplomatic and legal tensions. Guyana asserts its territorial claims based on historical arbitration, while Venezuela’s actions challenge international agreements. The ICJ’s prior orders emphasize the importance of legal processes in resolving these issues, underscoring the need for immediate court intervention.
Original Source: www.gonzagabulletin.com
