Guyana has asked the ICJ to prevent Venezuela from holding elections in the disputed Esequibo region, claiming it violates a court ruling. Tensions have escalated following a coast guard incident. A final ICJ ruling on the dispute is expected to take years.
On Thursday, Guyana formally requested that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) intervene to prevent Venezuela from proceeding with elections in the disputed Esequibo region. The Guyanese foreign ministry asserts that holding such elections would be in direct violation of a previous court ruling.
Venezuela is set to hold provincial elections on May 25, including state governor positions. Additionally, President Nicolas Maduro’s administration enacted a law last year establishing a new state within the contested territory, despite an ongoing legal case over Esequibo’s ownership and a 2023 ruling mandating Venezuela to refrain from altering the region’s status.
In its statement, Guyana emphasized the necessity for the ICJ to restrict Venezuela from conducting elections in the 160,000-square-kilometer area, citing the act as a blatant infringement on the court’s 2023 directive. Guyana has also sought expedited proceedings to mitigate potential “serious and irremediable prejudice” to its rights.
The Venezuelan communications ministry has not yet provided a response to the allegations. Tensions between the two nations have escalated recently, particularly after an incident where a Venezuelan coast guard patrol allegedly entered Guyanese waters and approached an ExxonMobil-managed oil vessel. Venezuela contends that the waters in question are within a maritime zone that remains to be delimited under international law.
A comprehensive decision by the ICJ regarding the sovereignty dispute may require several years to finalize, as legal complexities continue to unfold.
In summary, Guyana has appealed to the ICJ to block Venezuela’s planned elections in Esequibo, citing violations of prior court mandates. Venezuela’s recent actions, including the establishment of a new state in the disputed territory, have heightened tensions. Urgent hearings have been requested to prevent undue prejudice to Guyana’s claims, with the ICJ’s final ruling on the sovereignty issue potentially years away.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
