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n a major victory for Guyana’s territorial integrity, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Venezuela to halt its planned “elections” in the Essequibo region pending the outcome of the countries’ border case . The unanimous order, issued on May 1 in The Hague, reaffirms that Venezuela “shall refrain from conducting or preparing to conduct elections in the territory in dispute which Guyana currently administers”. This came after Guyana urgently petitioned the World Court in March when Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced a unilateral vote on May 25 to create a so-called “Guayana Esequiba” state in Essequibo.
Guyana’s government welcomed the court’s decision. President Dr. Irfaan Ali declared that “Guyana’s position has prevailed… [it] accords with international law”, calling the ruling a validation of Guyana’s consistent stance. An official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Venezuela to “comply fully with the ICJ’s orders, which are legally binding” and cease any actions violating Guyana’s territorial sovereignty guyanatimesgy.com. The ministry reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to peacefully resolving the century-old border controversy through the ICJ process .
This latest order effectively bolsters previous provisional measures the ICJ granted Guyana in 2023. Back in December 2023, as tensions rose over Venezuela’s threats to annex Essequibo by force, the World Court instructed Venezuela to not disturb the status quo or aggravate the dispute guyanatimesgy.com. Despite that, Caracas pressed ahead with provocative moves like the now-blocked election. The ICJ’s intervention on Guyana’s behalf underscores the court’s view that Venezuela’s actions would “flagrantly violate” those provisional measures.
Under the binding order, Venezuela must immediately stand down all preparations for installing any parallel governance in Essequibo. The disputed territory makes up about two-thirds of Guyana’s land and includes offshore oil fields where over 11 billion barrels of oil have been discovered . Guyana argues the 1899 arbitral award fixing the border is final, while Venezuela contests it. The case’s merits are still before the ICJ, but in the interim Guyana sought and won this protective ruling.
As Guyana celebrates the ICJ’s decision, President Ali stressed the importance of the rule of law. He noted that Guyana will accept the final judgment of the World Court and expects Venezuela, as a United Nations member, to do the same. The international community has been closely watching: this order sends a clear message that Venezuela’s gambit to undermine Guyana’s sovereignty via sham elections is unacceptable while the border case is sub judice. For now, Guyanese officials are relieved – and Essequibo residents reassured – that the World Court has put a legal check on Venezuela’s expansionist campaign.
