…after announcement of election for Venezuelan governor over Guyana’s territory
The Guyana Government has issued a stinging rebuke to the Nicolás Maduro-led Venezuelan regime after the embattled President announced that “elections” would be held in Guyana’s own territory for a “Governor of Essequibo”.
Maduro, who is under international scrutiny over plans to swear himself in as President on Friday, despite widespread claims that he had actually lost last year’s election, announced to his cabinet during its first meeting of 2025, on January 7, that elections would be held for “Governor of the state of Guayana Esequiba.”
The response from Guyana has been swift, with the Foreign Affairs Ministry issuing a statement slamming Maduro’s utterances, which it noted was a clear violation of the Argyle Agreement of December 14, 2023 and the edit of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), both of whom prohibit Guyana and Venezuela from escalating the border controversy over Essequibo.
“The announcement by President Nicolás Maduro on January 7, 2025 regarding the election of a “Governor of the Guayana Esequiba” by “the people of Guayana Esequiba” constitutes a direct violation of these commitments. This unilateral action disregards the spirit of the Argyle Agreement, undermines the agreed framework for dialogue and peaceful coexistence, and significantly escalates tensions between our nations,” the Guyana Government has said.
“The people of Guyana’s Essequibo region are Guyanese nationals who live in Guyana’s sovereign territory. It would be a flagrant violation of the most fundamental principles of international law, enshrined in the UN Charter, for Venezuela to attempt to conduct an election in Guyanese territory involving the participation of Guyanese nationals,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry has said.
It has also been pointed out by the Foreign Affairs Ministry that for Maduro to make this inflammatory announcement of elections in Guyana’s territory would not only violate the ICJ’s binding order, but undermine the authority of the international court as the principal judicial arm of the United Nations.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has also warned that it would approach the ICJ for additional measures against Venezuela, and has urged that Spanish-speaking country to desist from its actions.
“Guyana reserves the right to ask the Court for additional provisional measures in the event that Venezuela takes any steps toward conducting its so-called “election” in Guyanese territory, or involving Guyanese nationals.
“Guyana urges Venezuela to immediately cease all actions that contravene the Argyle Agreement and the ICJ Order, and to recommit to the principles of international law and peaceful dispute resolution to which it agreed at Argyle,” the Ministry has said.
Constructive dialogue
Further, Government has requested assurances from Venezuela that it would adhere to its international obligations, and has made clear that it is open to constructive dialogue within agreed frameworks.
“Guyana remains prepared to engage in constructive dialogue under the agreed frameworks, but it cannot condone or accept unilateral actions that threaten its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Ministry has said.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana requests assurances from the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela that it will respect its international obligations and refrain from further actions that undermine the peaceful resolution of this longstanding controversy, in conformity with international law.”
It was only last month that Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd had a high-level meeting with Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana, Carlos Amador Perez Silva, during which Guyana formally registered its protest over the regime’s construction of a bridge connecting Venezuela’s mainland to Ankoko Island in the Cuyuni River, where the Venezuelan army maintains a military base.
During that meeting, the Venezuelan Ambassador had indicated that the Venezuelan regime would provide an explanation for its aggressive tactics at the border with Guyana, including the recently constructed bridge.
That engagement had followed remarks made by President Dr Irfaan Ali when he informed officers of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) that the Foreign Affairs Ministry was asked to write to international partners along with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and Venezuela, renewing Guyana’s condemnation of the bridge that was built on Ankoko Island.
Under the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899 and the Boundary Agreement of 1905, the international boundary passes through Ankoko Island, dividing the island between Guyana and Venezuela, with Guyana’s sovereignty extending over the territory east of the boundary line.
However, while Ankoko Island is shared by the two South American neighbours, Venezuela illegally took over the entire island and established a military base there in 1966 after Guyana gained independence. Then, in 2024, there were reports along with satellite images shared of Venezuela’s National Armed Forces building a bridge to Ankoko Island in the Cuyuni River.
The Spanish-speaking nation is claiming more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass in the Essequibo region and a portion of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) where more than 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels have been discovered over the past nine years.
Guyana submitted its final written reply to Venezuela’s counter-memorial, pointing out that the Spanish-speaking nation’s case is without merit, and that, ultimately, the court would confirm the 1899 award as valid and legally binding.
In the merits phase of the case, Guyana’s Memorial was submitted on April 8, 2023 and Venezuela’s Counter-Memorial was made one year later, on April 8, 2024. Now with Guyana’s Reply filed on December 9 as set out by the ICJ, Venezuela would have the opportunity to respond with its Rejoinder, due on August 8, 2025. (G3)
