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Venezuela's president Maduro Signs Decrees Stealing Essequibo Region from Guayana

Posted by EU Times on Dec 9th, 2023 // No Comment

maduro essequibo 2023

In a significant development, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has officially signed a series of decrees that entail the formal incorporation of the western region of Guyana, known as Essequibo, into Venezuelan territory. These decrees outline the establishment of a National Commission for the Defense of Essequibo, the creation of the Guayana Esequiba Comprehensive Defense Zone, and the formation of specialized units within the state oil and gas company PDVSA for Essequibo – namely, PDVSA Essequibo and the Guyana Venezuelan Corporation (CVG Essequibo).

Additionally, Maduro has endorsed a revised map of Venezuela, officially incorporating the Guayana Esequiba region, thereby reinforcing the territorial claim. The newly formed state of Guayana Esequiba will be overseen by Major General Alexis Rodriguez Cabello, who has been appointed as its sole head.

This move comes in the aftermath of a consultative, non-legally binding referendum held in Venezuela on December 3, where citizens were asked whether the new state of Guayana Esequiba should be created, and Venezuelan citizenship extended to its population. The National Electoral Council reported a resounding 95 percent approval from the participating voters. Following the referendum, President Maduro declared the creation of the new state on December 6.

However, this development has heightened tensions with neighboring Guyana, and its former colonial master, the UK. The territorial dispute over Essequibo has roots dating back to Venezuela’s independence from Spain in 1819. An international court ruled in favor of the British claim in 1899, even though Venezuela was not represented during the hearing.

In 2018, Guyana referred the ongoing dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), seeking resolution. The move came after objections from President Maduro over former Guyanese President David Granger granting oil exploration rights off the Essequibo coast to ExxonMobil. Importantly, Venezuela has consistently rejected the ICJ’s jurisdiction in the matter, exacerbating geopolitical tensions in the region. As the situation unfolds, both Venezuela and Guyana remain firm in their respective stances on the territorial dispute over Essequibo.

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Read More Stories About: Caracas, Guayana, Guayana Esequiba, Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela, Venezuelan President

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