– A reported firefight between Guyanese forces and an illegal mining group left several wounded on both sides.
By Ricardo Vaz
CARACAS, (venezuelanalysis.com) – The Venezuelan government has condemned its Guyanese counterpart for spreading a “false and ill-intentioned narrative” concerning an armed clash in the disputed Essequibo Strip.
“This is a false flag and fake news operation designed to manipulate public opinion,” a statement from Venezuela’s foreign ministry read.
On Monday, six members of the Guyanese Defense Forces (GDF) were wounded in a reported firefight with an armed group.
According to Caracas, people involved in illegal mining activities in the Essequibo territory were attacked by Guyanese soldiers, resulting in several wounded that are being treated in Venezuelan territory.
“We denounce that Guyana is resorting to disinformation to cover up its illegal actions in the disputed area, alongside growing US-backed militarization that threatens regional peace,” the communique went on to add.
On Wednesday, Venezuelan attorney general Tarek William Saab announced an investigation into the events, beginning with interviews with those wounded in the incident.
For its part, Georgetown blamed the clash on “criminal gangs” that operate on the Venezuelan side of the border. Guyanese Foreign Minister Hugh Todd summoned Venezuela’s Ambassador Carlos Pérez, expressing “outrage” over the alleged attack and holding Caracas responsible.
“[Todd] insisted that Venezuela comply with […] its duty to eliminate the presence of Venezuelan criminal gangs in the border region,” an official statement read.
The Guyanese government claimed that a GDF supply ship traveling on the Cuyuní River came under fire from the Venezuelan bank. However, local press reports put forward a different version with two wooden boats intercepting the GDF vessel and opening fire. The Guyanese press reported a heavy presence of illegal mining outfits in the jungle territory.
Guyana’s president Irfaan Ali stated that authorities were taking the incident “very seriously” and carrying out their own investigation.
The heightened border tensions coincided with the 59th anniversary of the Geneva Agreement which stipulated that Venezuela and Guyana should reach a mutually agreeable solution to settle the Essequibo territorial dispute.
The Nicolás Maduro government has reiterated the longstanding position that the 1966 Geneva accords remain the only mechanism to solve the two-century-old border controversy.
The resource-rich, sparsely populated 160,000 square-kilometer Essequibo Strip is presently administered by Guyana. Caracas has challenged and denounced the validity of an 1899 arbitration ruling that awarded the territory to the United Kingdom, Guyana’s former colonial power.
The unsolved sovereignty claims resurfaced in recent years following massive offshore oil discoveries in the Essequibo’s territorial waters. Guyana has moved forward with crude drilling and exporting operations, with US oil giant Exxon Mobil as the main operator, while Venezuela has denounced that the extractive activities violate the 1966 Geneva Agreement.
The Guyanese government has requested that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) uphold the validity of the 1899 arbitration decision. Venezuela has rejected the ICJ’s jurisdiction over the matter but has proceeded to defend its position. The Maduro government will present its final arguments in August 2025.
For its part, the Ali administration has pursued deeper military cooperation with the US Southern Command, including military drills over the Essequibo Strip. Venezuela has denounced the ramped-up militarization and alleged that the US could set up military bases in Guyana.
In April 2024, the Venezuelan National Assembly passed a law establishing institutions for a would-be Guayana Esequiba state. Recently, the Maduro government announced that the upcoming regional elections will include choosing a governor for Guayana Esequiba. However, electoral authorities have yet to specify who will be eligible to vote.
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