The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has warned Venezuela to stop any action that would alter Guyana’s control over the disputed territory of Essequibo, days ahead of a planned referendum over the territory.
- However, the court did not specifically ban Venezuela from holding the referendum over the oil-rich territory, as Guyana had requested.
- Venezuela has decided to ask its citizens’ opinion on whether or not it should create a new “state” in Essequibo.
- Guyana claims that this move would pave the way for its neighbour to unilaterally and illegally seize the region.
- Essequibo makes up more than two-thirds of Guyana, which has administered the area for over 100 years.
- Venezuela has laid claim to the Essequibo ever since it gained independence from Spain in 1811.
- Inhabited by 120,000 of Guyana’s 800,000 people, the region is largely impenetrable jungle but has large reserves of oil, gold and copper.
