Guyana appeals to US & UN as Venezuela advances annexation of territory

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, SA- Guyana has turned to the United Nations and the United States for help as the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, announced a series of measures intended to advance its annexation of two-thirds of the independent South American nation’s territory.

This was announced by the President of Guyana, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, in a television broadcast late on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.

“I have spoken to the secretary general of the United Nations and several leaders, alerting them of these dangerous developments and the desperate actions of President Maduro,” President Ali stated.

Ignoring the International Court of Justice (ICJ) warning, on Sunday, December 1, 2023, Maduro went ahead with a planned referendum that sought the public's opinion on the annexation of Guyana's Essequibo region.

Though voter turnout was low and government figures have been widely questioned by observers, the Venezuelan government said 95% of voters agreed to ignore the court and recognise Essequibo as part of Venezuela.

Venezuela’s advances towards annexation

The Venezuelan president said he had ordered a law to be drafted recognising a new state – the Guayana-Esequiba – where the English-speaking residents would be given Venezuelan national ID cards. He also ordered national companies to begin mining and oil extraction operations in the resource-rich region, and for a special military unit to be created for the region, alarming observers and causing Brazil to send armoured vehicles to its border.