Guyana says election officials' boat shot at from Venezuelan shore in contested Essequibo

Guyana's security forces said a boat carrying election officials and ballot boxes was shot at "from the Venezuelan shore" on Sunday in the disputed Essequibo region, in an incident that occurred a day before the South American nation's general election.

A joint statement from the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force said the patrol escorting the officials "immediately returned fire" and that no one was injured. The statement did not identify who was responsible for the shooting and said only that the attack took place in the Essequibo area, which is administered by Guyana but claimed by Venezuela.

Venezuela had not commented on the incident as of Monday. The episode comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries over the oil-rich region, which covers roughly 159,500 square kilometres (61,600 square miles). Guyana has administered the territory, and before that British Guiana, for more than a century. Venezuela renewed its claim most recently with a December 2023 referendum in which more than 95% of Venezuelans who voted backed the government's position in favour of the claim.

Guyana has taken the dispute to the International Court of Justice, asking the court to rule that the 1899 arbitration award that granted the territory to Guyana remains valid. Venezuela has disputed the court's authority to decide the matter and did not recognise the process. The two countries have otherwise avoided direct state-on-state military clash, but incidents and diplomatic friction have increased since the region's offshore oil discoveries raised the economic stakes.

The Guyanese statement said security forces were escorting the election officials to ensure the safe transport of ballot boxes ahead of the vote. Guyana's general election was scheduled for Monday. The security forces gave no further details about the location of the patrol at the time of the attack, the number of shots fired, or whether any investigation had yet identified suspects or their motives.

Election authorities have emphasised the importance of maintaining the integrity and security of the vote amid the territorial dispute. International and regional bodies have in the past called for restraint by both governments while the legal process at the International Court of Justice proceeds, and observers have monitored previous incidents and diplomatic exchanges tied to the Essequibo claim.

Further information, including any response from Venezuelan authorities or updates from Guyanese investigators, had not been made public by the time of publication.