Overview

• The International Court of Justice has ordered Venezuela to suspend plans for regional elections in the disputed Essequibo territory.
• Guyana argued that Venezuela's planned elections violated an earlier ICJ ruling and threatened its territorial sovereignty.
• The Essequibo region, comprising two-thirds of Guyana, is rich in gold, diamonds, timber, and near significant offshore oil deposits.
• Venezuela has rejected the ICJ's jurisdiction and vowed to proceed with the elections, maintaining its claim over Essequibo.
• The century-old dispute has intensified since Guyana's 2015 oil discoveries, with regional diplomacy and ICJ arbitration failing to resolve tensions.