Guyana has formally requested the ICJ to prohibit Venezuela from holding elections in the Esequibo region, arguing that such a vote would violate prior court rulings. The request comes amid heightened tensions following maritime incidents between the two nations. A resolution from the ICJ on this territorial dispute may take years.
On Thursday, Guyana requested the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to prevent Venezuela from proceeding with elections in the contested Esequibo region, asserting that such a vote would breach a previous court ruling. Venezuela’s provincial elections, set for May 25, include the election of state governors and follow a law passed last year by President Nicolas Maduro’s administration that established a new state within the disputed territory. This action comes despite the ongoing ICJ case regarding the sovereignty of Esequibo and a court order issued in 2023 directing Venezuela to refrain from any actions altering the status quo of the territory.
The Guyanese foreign ministry termed Venezuela’s electoral plans as a “flagrant violation” of the 2023 ICJ ruling, requesting that the UN’s highest court outlaw the elections in the 160,000-square-kilometer area. Guyana further appealed for expedited hearings to avert potential “serious and irremediable prejudice” to its sovereign rights. Meanwhile, there was no immediate response from the Venezuelan communications ministry regarding Guyana’s request.
Tensions between the two countries escalated over the past weekend as Guyana reported an incident where a Venezuelan coast guard patrol entered its waters and approached a vessel in an offshore oil block operated by ExxonMobil. Venezuela contended that the waters in question are part of a maritime zone that is still to be delineated according to international law. It is important to note that a conclusive decision from the ICJ on this matter may take several years to reach.
In summary, Guyana’s plea to the ICJ seeks to block Venezuela from conducting elections in the Esequibo region, citing violations of a court ruling. The ongoing tensions and the recent incidents in disputed waters underline the complexities of the territorial conflict, while a final decision on the issue from the ICJ is expected to take considerable time.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
