Nicolas Maduro proposes a law to annex an oil-rich region of Guyana, which denounces a “direct threat”

The tension rises another notch. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro proposed drafting a law to create a new administrative province in the Essequibo region, administered by neighboring Guyana, on Tuesday, December 5. He also ordered the granting of oil licenses in this resource-rich territory.

This announcement follows a consultative referendum organized on Sunday by Caracas, where more than 10 million voters voted more than 95% in favor of the integration of Essequibo into Venezuelan territory. Results whose reliability is contested by many observers. The region has been controlled by neighboring Guyana since its independence in 1966.

Guyanese president appeals to the UN

In an exceptional address to the nation on Tuesday, the President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, considered that the statements of his Venezuelan counterpart were “a direct threat to the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Guyana”. He claims to have discussed with the Secretary General of the United Nations and “several leaders” For “alert them to this dangerous development and the desperate actions of President Maduro, which endanger international law”.

Earlier on Tuesday, Nicolas Maduro also declared that he would create a regional division of the national oil company, PDVSA, and gave orders to proceed “immediately” has “licensing” For “the exploitation of oil, gas and mines throughout the region”. He proposed banning the signing of contracts with companies operating in the region under concessions granted by Guyana, and cited a three-month deadline within which they would have to withdraw.