Venezuela's decision to elect officials to oversee a significant portion of Guyanese territory represents "a direct attack on Guyana's sovereignty and territorial integrity," which "threatens regional peace," warned President Irfaan Ali.
On Sunday, Venezuelans will vote for regional governors and lawmakers, including those who would allegedly govern Essequibo, a region internationally recognized as part of Guyana. This area, primarily covered in jungle, is also abundant in oil, gold, diamonds, timber, and other natural resources.
Ali expressed to the Guardian that this action is part of a "campaign to provoke confrontation," emphasizing that the "consequences are serious—not only for Guyana but for the entire western hemisphere."
"The sham elections that Venezuela plans to conduct in our territory are not only illegal; they represent a blatant act of hostility. This threat extends beyond Guyana and undermines regional peace," Ali stated.
Guyana, an English-speaking nation that was formerly a British and Dutch colony, has governed the disputed region for decades. This area constitutes two-thirds of its territory and is home to 125,000 of its 800,000 residents. Guyana asserts that the borders were established by an arbitration panel in 1899, while Venezuela claims the region based on its inclusion within its boundaries during the Spanish colonial era.
The long-standing dispute flared up again in 2015 when the US energy company ExxonMobil discovered significant crude oil reserves in the area, and tensions escalated in 2023 when Guyana began auctioning oil exploration licenses.
In late 2023, following a referendum in which voters were asked whether the region should become a Venezuelan state, President Nicolás Maduro threatened to partially annex the area by force and announced plans to hold elections there.
Caracas refers to Essequibo as “an inalienable part of Venezuelan territory and a legacy of our liberators,” firmly rejecting an International Court of Justice order to halt its plans. Venezuela stated, “No international pressure, judicial blackmail, or foreign tribunal will deter us from this belief.”
Dr. Christopher Sabatini, a Latin America expert at Chatham House, noted that the decision to proceed with elections aims to ignite nationalist sentiments.
Brigadier Omar Khan, Guyana’s chief of defense staff, has urged Indigenous communities, especially those near the border, to report any information regarding Venezuela’s efforts to conduct the election. “I want you to remain vigilant,” Khan advised Indigenous leaders on Tuesday. He also cautioned that any resident participating in the elections could face charges of treason and other serious crimes.
Khan told the Associated Press, “Any participation or similar actions will be seen as support for a passive coup. Such actions would represent a violation of our sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
A source from Venezuela indicated that while the newly established “Guyana-Essequibo state” encompasses the entire disputed area, voting would only occur in a border municipality within the Venezuelan state of BolÃvar. The source suggested that Venezuelan authorities are unlikely to breach the internationally recognized border.
President Ali stated that Guyana is a “peaceful nation” but “will not bow to any bully or yield to threats.” He emphasized his commitment to making all necessary investments—military, diplomatic, technological, and human—to protect and uphold the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The elections are taking place 10 months after Maduro was widely accused of stealing a previous election in which he claimed victory. This was followed by a brutal crackdown, with Human Rights Watch (HRW) reporting that the government had "killed, tortured, detained, and forcefully disappeared individuals seeking democratic change." In the upcoming poll on Sunday, Venezuelans will vote for 24 state governors and 285 national assembly members, although voter turnout is anticipated to be low.
“Last year, Maduro manipulated the election results and suppressed those who called for a fair vote count. It’s difficult to predict how many will choose to vote again,” stated Juan Pappier, deputy director of the Americas Division at Human Rights Watch.
VÃctor Alfonzo, a 33-year-old resident of Anzoátegui, expressed that the people no longer have faith in the political system. “I don’t intend to vote, and neither do my friends or family. We recognize that this government is fraudulent, and we refuse to take part,” he said.
The Venezuelan opposition is currently grappling with internal conflicts regarding whether to abstain from the upcoming election. Those few candidates who have decided to participate are facing harsh criticism from their political peers. Opposition leader MarÃa Corina Machado has urged voters to refrain from voting, aiming to embarrass the government with a low turnout. However, some caution that this boycott could ultimately benefit the administration. In 2020, the opposition's decision to boycott parliamentary elections is believed to have enabled Maduro’s allies to reclaim control of parliament. “Leaders who choose to sit out become irrelevant,” noted Sabatini. “They risk further marginalization, which is partly the government’s strategy.”
