Essequibo dispute: Venezuelans approve referendum to claim sovereignty over swathe of neighbour Guyana
- Venezuelan voters backed the creation of a new state in the disputed Essequibo region in a referendum
- Referendum raised fears in Guyana about Venezuela’s ultimate intentions over the oil-rich territory
Venezuelans on Sunday approved a referendum called by the government of President Nicolas Maduro to claim sovereignty over an oil and mineral-rich area of neighbouring Guyana it argues was stolen when the border was drawn more than a century ago.
It remains unclear how Maduro will enforce the results of the vote. But Guyana considers the referendum a step toward annexation, and the vote has its residents on edge.
The National Electoral Council claimed to have counted more than 10.5 million votes even though few voters could be seen at polling sites throughout the voting period for the five-question referendum.
The council, however, did not explain whether the number of votes was equivalent to each voter or if it was the sum of each individual answer.
Venezuelan voters were asked whether they support establishing a state in the disputed territory, known as Essequibo, granting citizenship to current and future area residents and rejecting the jurisdiction of the United Nations’ top court in settling the disagreement between the South American countries.
