Nicolás Maduro has changed the map of Venezuela to include the 159,000 square kilometers of the Essequibo, the territory in the east of the country that is administered by Guyana. This is what the Chavista leader has ordered in order to comply, he assures, with the ruling of the ballot box. Immediately, by decree and 48 hours after the controversial patriotic referendum mounted by the Bolivarian revolution.

"Let's proceed to publish and take to all the schools, high schools and universities of the country the new map. A map loved by several generations, now complete," Maduro ordered a large group of obedient ministers during a joint event with the different branches of government and packed with the military.

Until now, the official map of the oil-rich country showed the territory of the Essequibo painted with stripes, as it is an area that has been under reclamation for generations. By approving the fifth question of the consultation, which called for the creation of a new state (region) called Guayana Esequiba and which would involve the annexation by Caracas of the disputed territory, Maduro has launched a process of measures, mostly testimonial, but which further increases the tension in the border area.

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The referendum on Guyana with which Maduro wants to annex the Essequibo has been approved in the shadows and with high abstentions

  • Written by: DANIEL LOZANO

The referendum on Guyana with which Maduro wants to annex the Essequibo has been approved in the shadows and with high abstentions

Venezuela.

The 10 keys to the Essequibo referendum, the challenge to win Maduro's followers

  • Written by: DANIEL LOZANO

The 10 keys to the Essequibo referendum, the challenge to win Maduro's followers

"Guyana must know that it fixes this by force or we fix it," threatened Maduro, who has insisted that he will not recognize the ruling scheduled for next year by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest court of the United Nations. To support these words, the "people's president" announced the creation of a Defense Zone called Guyana Essequibo, based near the border. At the helm he has placed a relative of Diosdado Cabello.

Maduro thus adds more pressure to the situation that is so frightening in the region, fearful that he finally wants to turn the Essequibo into his Venezuelan Malvinas to retain power at all costs despite the majority popular rejection he arouses. And he does not forget about oil: despite acknowledging that Georgetown de facto controls the disputed territory, the Bolivarian leader granted Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) the prerogative to grant licenses to explore and exploit black gold and gas in the Essequibo.

The Chavista leader also set a three-month deadline for the oil companies, led by ExxonMobil, which exploit the underwater deposits of the Essequibo Sea, to abandon these projects.

Despite the human emergency and skyrocketing poverty that Venezuela suffers today, Maduro announced other social measures to help the inhabitants of the Essequibo, including an office to grant them documentation.

"None of the measures envisage an execution in the disputed territory with Guyana. Symbolism to keep the dispute on the table," summed up Mariano de Alba, senior advisor at the Crisis Group.


  • Venezuela
  • Nicolas Maduro