Guyana Appeals to World Court Over Venezuela's 'Existential Threat' Referendum

Disputed Territory Rich in Resources; Referendum Seeks to Annex Guyana's Essequibo Region

Guyana has urged the International Court of Justice to halt parts of a Venezuelan referendum over a territorial dispute, calling it an 'existential threat'.
The disputed territory, west of the Essequibo River, is rich in natural resources such as gold, diamonds, and timber.
The referendum, scheduled for Dec. 3, seeks to create a new Venezuelan state that would annex Guyana's entire Essequibo region, granting Venezuelan citizenship to the population.
The referendum was proposed by Venezuela’s National Assembly, approved by the National Electoral Council and cleared by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, all controlled by supporters of President Nicolás Maduro.
Guyana launched a case at the world court in 2018 seeking to have U.N. judges uphold an 1899 ruling that drew the border between the two countries.