Venezuelans vote in referendum on disputed territory

(Patria) - Venezuelans voted on Sunday in a government-backed referendum on a potentially oil-rich territory that is the subject of a long-standing border dispute with Guyana, Reuters reported.

The five-question referendum includes one asking to reject the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to decide which country owns the territory around the Essequibo River. Some political and security analysts have called the referendum Maduro's show of strength and a test of support for his government ahead of planned presidential elections in 2024.

The court said in April it had jurisdiction, although a final ruling on the matter could be years away. Venezuela has said the issue should be resolved by the two countries.
The court responded on Friday to Guyana's request to halt the referendum, ordering Venezuela to refrain from taking any actions that would alter the status quo, without explicitly banning the vote.

Both countries hailed the ruling as support for their position. Maduro encouraged voters to approve the referendum.

"The first effect that a powerful, united voice from Venezuela should have is to sit down with the president of Guyana and return to the Geneva Agreement," Maduro said after voting.

"Let's hope the people speak, speak strongly and speak clearly," he added.

The region in question is 160,000 square kilometers, mostly dense jungle.
Venezuela has reactivated its claim to the territory in recent years following offshore oil and gas discoveries.

The referendum is "consultative" and there is no minimum turnout for it to be valid.
Voting is taking place at 11,122 polling stations across the country. Polling stations were scheduled to close at
6:00 PM local time (10:00 PM GMT), but authorities extended voting by two hours.

The vote has raised concerns in Guyana, and the government has urged citizens to remain calm.
Brazil said on Wednesday it had stepped up "defense actions" along its northern border amid the territorial dispute between the two neighboring states.