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3w ago

Venezuela Holds Controversial Elections in Disputed Essequibo Region

The elections, condemned by Guyana and the US, defy an International Court of Justice order to maintain the status quo in the oil-rich territory.

Image
The Essequibo River flows through Kurupukari crossing in Guyana on November 19, 2023. Venezuela has long claimed Guyana's Essequibo region, a territory larger than Greece and rich in oil and minerals.
A person votes at a polling station during the regional elections in El Dorado, Bolivar State, Venezuela, on Sunday.
Neil Villamizar, part of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's ruling party, was elected governor of the disputed Essequibo region

Overview

  • Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro conducted elections in Essequibo on May 25, 2025, electing a governor and lawmakers for the disputed region.
  • Essequibo, internationally recognized as part of Guyana, has been under Guyanese control since its independence in 1966.
  • The International Court of Justice previously ordered Venezuela to refrain from actions altering the region’s status, including holding elections, pending a final ruling on the territorial dispute.
  • The elections, dismissed as illegitimate by Guyana and the US State Department, are seen as an effort by Maduro to bolster domestic support and assert Venezuela’s claim over the territory.
  • The dispute has intensified due to recent discoveries of vast offshore oil reserves in Essequibo, which have heightened its economic and strategic significance.