Border controversy: ICJ acknowledges request to block Venezuela’s unlawful elections in Guyana’s Essequibo region

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has recognized Guyana’s request to prevent Venezuela from proceeding with elections in the Essequibo region, a territory that comprises two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass.
On Thursday, the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry said it has filed in the Registry of the ICJ, a request for the indication of provisional measures in the border controversy case currently before the court concerning the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899, which determined the boundary between the two South American neighbours.
Guyana has contended that this action by the Spanish-speaking nation “flagrantly violates” provisional measures issued by the ICJ back in December 2023 when the Guyanese Government was forced to approach the World Court against Venezuela’s aggression.
Via a statement on Friday, the World Court acknowledged receipt of Guyana’s ‘Request for provisional measures,’ which is prompted by Venezuela’s announcement that it will soon hold elections in the Essequibo region.

“According to the Applicant, the conduct of Venezuelan elections, which are scheduled for 25 May 2025, as well as all preparatory acts in the disputed territory leading to the holding of such elections, would violate “Guyana’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence, as well as the Court’s Order [on the indication of provisional measures] of 1 December 2023”. Guyana further contends that the conduct of electoral activities by Venezuela in the relevant territory will cause irreparable harm to Guyana and that “[the] need for provisional measures is urgent”,” the ICJ missive detailed.
Guyana requests the Court to indicate a series of provisional measures including that Venezuela shall not conduct any election in, or in respect of, any part of the territory on Guyana’s side of the boundary line as established by the 1899 Arbitral Award.
In fact, Guyana does not want Venezuela to purport to extend the right to vote in any Venezuelan elections to any individuals living within [Guyana’s] territory; distribute ballot papers, poll cards, electoral materials or any other physical or electronic electoral documents to individuals within that territory; present or name or otherwise support candidates for any Venezuelan elections within that territory; establish polling stations, count stations or electoral offices within that territory; purporting to establish, elect or appoint any office of Governor, legislative council, deputies or any other legislative or Governmental official in respect of any part of that territory; and to communicate directly or indirectly with any resident in that territory in regard to any elections planned by Venezuela.
Moreover, the World Court said Guyana wants Venezuela to refrain from taking any action which purports to annex de jure or de facto any territory on Guyana’s side of the boundary line established by the 1899 Arbitral Award, including by incorporating ‘Guayana Esequiba’ as part of Venezuela.
Additionally, Guyana wants Venezuela to refrain from taking any action which would seek to modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby Guyana administers and exercises control over that area.
This is the second time Guyana has had to write the ICJ over Venezuelan’s aggression even as the court is hearing the case to settle the decades-long border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.

Refrain from any actions
Back in November 2023, Guyana had approached the World Court after Venezuela’s threat to seize and annex Guyana’s Essequibo region. In response, the ICJ had ordered Venezuela to refrain from any actions to disturb Guyana’s administration and control of that territory pending the conclusion of the case.
In that December 1, 2023 ICJ Order, it was noted “…(1) Unanimously, pending a final decision in the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby the Co-operative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area…”

In Thursday’s correspondence to the ICJ, Guyana told the Court that Venezuela’s plans to hold elections in Essequibo flagrantly violates that 2023 order.
“Guyana’s current request seeks confirmation of this by the Court, as well as an explicit directive to refrain from any electoral activities within or affecting this territory or its population, which consist of Guyanese nationals,” the Foreign Ministry said.
Moreover, Guyana has further requested the World Court to convene hearings on its recent request as soon as possible, to enable such provisional measures, as might be indicated by the Court, to be issued before “serious and irremediable” prejudice to Guyana’s rights occurs.
This request was filed just days after a Venezuelan naval vessel entered Guyana’s waters on March 1 and engaged several vessels conducting oil operations in the Stabroek Block offshore in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), where nearly 11 billion barrels of oil-equivalent has been discovered since 2015 and where production activities are currently ongoing. In addition to the Essequibo, Venezuela is also laying claim to Guyana’s EEZ.
The Guyana Government has since activated a series of responses, including the deployment of military resources offshore, engaging the international community and it has also sent a formal protest note to Venezuela.
There has since been widespread condemnation of Venezuela’s incursion into Guyana’s maritime territory from several of Guyana’s allies, including the United States (US), as well as regional and international bodies such as the Organisation of American States (OAS), Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Commonwealth as well as from former Latin American leaders.