Venezuelans Vote in Referendum on Disputed Territory

Venezuelans are voting in a referendum on Sunday called by the government of President Nicolás Maduro to claim sovereignty over a large swath of neighboring Guyana.

Venezuelans went to the polls on Sunday to vote in a referendum called by President Nicolás Maduro's government to claim sovereignty over a large swath of neighboring Guyana. The territory in question, known as Essequibo, is rich in oil and minerals, and Venezuela argues that it was stolen when the border was drawn more than a century ago.

Guyana: Referendum is a Step Toward Annexation

Guyana considers the referendum a step toward annexation, and the vote has its residents on edge. The referendum asks Venezuelans whether they support establishing a state in the disputed territory, granting citizenship to current and future area residents, and rejecting the jurisdiction of the United Nations top court in settling the disagreement between the two South American countries.

Maduro: Resolving an Imperial Dispossession

Maduro cast his vote at a military complex in Caracas, the capital, and said, "We are solving through constitutional, peaceful, and democratic means an imperial dispossession of 150 years." However, he and other government officials have not explained the exact steps they will take to enforce the referendum's results.

Low Turnout in Caracas

Less than two hours before polls were originally scheduled to close, turnout appeared to be low at voting centers in Caracas. Long lines typical of electoral events did not form outside the centers. However, the country's top electoral authority, Elvis Amoroso, announced that polls would remain open for two additional hours. He claimed, without giving numbers, that there was "massive participation" in the referendum.

International Court of Justice Ruling

On Friday, the International Court of Justice ordered Venezuela not to take any action that would alter Guyana's control over Essequibo. However, the judges did not specifically ban officials from carrying out Sunday's five-question referendum. Guyana had asked the court to order Venezuela to halt parts of the vote.

Essequibo: A Contentious Territory

Essequibo, which accounts for two-thirds of Guyana's territory, is a 61,600-square-mile (159,500-square-kilometer) region that also borders Brazil. The territory is rich in minerals and provides access to an area of the Atlantic where ExxonMobil discovered oil in commercial quantities in 2015.

Referendum Promoted as Patriotism

Venezuela's government promoted the referendum for weeks, framing participation as an act of patriotism and often conflating it with a show of support for Maduro. The government has long disputed the border decided by international arbitrators in 1899 when Guyana was still a British colony.

Legal and Political Implications

The practical and legal implications of the referendum remain unclear. In comments explaining Friday's verdict, international court president Joan E. Donoghue said statements from Venezuela's government suggest it "is taking steps with a view toward acquiring control over and administering the territory in dispute."

Voters' Decision

Voters in Sunday's referendum had to answer whether they "agree to reject by all means, in accordance with the law," the 1899 boundary and whether they support the 1966 agreement "as the only valid legal instrument" to reach a solution.

Government Control Over the Referendum

The referendum was proposed by the country's National Assembly, approved by the National Electoral Council, and cleared by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, all controlled by Maduro loyalists. Maduro has thrown the full weight of his government into the effort, turning the referendum into the dominant topic across all state-owned media.

The referendum on the disputed Essequibo territory has raised concerns about Venezuela's intentions and the potential for further tensions in the region. While the practical and legal implications of the vote remain to be seen, it is clear that the issue of Essequibo will continue to be a source of contention between Venezuela and Guyana.