Venezuela claims “overwhelming victory” in Essequibo territory dispute referendum
Venezuela’s government has hailed an “overwhelming victory” in a referendum held on Sunday to settle its claim to the oil-and-mineral-rich Essequibo region of neighboring Guyana.
The referendum, which Guyana denounced as a pretext for “annexation”, is the latest development in a long-standing dispute over the territory, which has escalated since ExxonMobil made a significant oil discovery off the Guyanese coast in 2015.
President Nicolás Maduro celebrated the results, declaring that it marked the beginning of a “new historic phase” in the fight to reclaim the region. The Venezuelan government reported that more than 10 million votes had been counted, with all five ballot questions concerning Essequibo approved by voters.
The referendum was held despite an order from the International Court of Justice on Friday for Venezuela to refrain from actions that would alter the status quo of the region.
Despite official claims of a high turnout, witnesses stated that the queues at polling stations were much shorter than those seen during the opposition’s primary elections in October.
Observers and opposition politicians in Venezuela criticized the referendum as an attempt by Maduro to shore up domestic support as the country prepares for elections in 2024. The US has relaxed sanctions on Venezuela in an effort to encourage “free and fair” elections next year.
While Venezuela considers the Essequibo region a part of its territory, some opposition figures have called for the matter to be settled by the International Court of Justice.