On Thursday, Guyana formally filed a Request for provisional measures at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning the ongoing territorial controversy with Venezuela over the Essequibo region. This move follows Venezuela’s announcement to conduct elections in the contested territory on 25 May 2025.
The Request, lodged at the Court’s Registry, cites concerns over Venezuela’s plans to proceed with electoral activities in the Essequibo region, which Guyana asserts would violate its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence. The Government of Guyana also argues that such actions would contravene an earlier ICJ Order issued on 1 December 2023, which calls for the preservation of the status quo in the disputed region.
Guyana further emphasises the urgency of the situation, highlighting the irreparable harm it believes will result from Venezuela’s electoral activities within the disputed territory. In its submission, Guyana requests the ICJ to issue provisional measures to prevent Venezuela from conducting any elections or electoral activities in the area.
Specifically, Guyana is seeking the Court to:
Prohibit Venezuela from conducting any elections, including distributing electoral materials, naming candidates, establishing polling stations, or appointing officials within the disputed territory.
Prevent Venezuela from taking any actions to annex or incorporate the territory, whether de jure or de facto, as part of its territory.
Order Venezuela to refrain from modifying the existing situation, in which Guyana currently administers and controls the disputed region.
This move follows a series of legal proceedings between the two nations. The dispute dates back to the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the boundary between British Guiana (now Guyana) and Venezuela. Guyana filed its initial application to the ICJ in 2018, seeking a legal determination on the validity of the 1899 Award and the status of the disputed territory.
Venezuela, however, has contested the Court’s jurisdiction and has refused to participate in several stages of the proceedings. In its 2020 ruling, the ICJ confirmed its jurisdiction over the controversy and affirmed its authority to resolve the matter. Subsequent challenges from Venezuela were rejected, with the Court ruling in 2023 that it could continue to adjudicate Guyana’s claims.
The current controversy intensified following Venezuela’s announcement of a controversial “Consultative Referendum” in December 2023, which included a proposal to create a new Venezuelan state, “Guayana Esequiba,” encompassing the disputed region. The ICJ’s 1 December 2023 Order called on both nations to refrain from actions that would exacerbate the dispute, particularly actions that might alter the territorial status quo.
With this new request for provisional measures, Guyana is seeking urgent intervention from the Court to prevent Venezuela from taking further actions in the disputed region. The ICJ has yet to respond to the request, but its acknowledgment of the filing marks a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings.
The outcome of this case remains pivotal in resolving one of Latin America’s most long-standing territorial disputes, with both nations maintaining opposing views on the legal status of the Essequibo region.
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